Common Name: Santol

General Information

Santol is a large, ornamental evergreen tree with a dense, narrowly oval crown; it usually grows around 25 metres tall but with some specimens up to 50 metres. The bole, which is sometimes straight but often crooked or fluted, is branchless for up to 18 metres; has a diameter up to 100 cm; and buttresses up to 3 metres high[, ].
The tree yields an edible fruit that is popular in parts of the tropics. It also has a wide range of traditional medicinal uses and produces a useful timber. It is often cultivated in tropical areas, especially for its edible fruit and as an ornamental in parks, along roads etc[, , ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea.

Habitat

Scattered in primary or sometimes secondary rain forest. It also occurs in lowland dipterocarp forest[]. River banks and wet tropical lowland to elevations of 300 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Santol is a plant of the hot, wet tropical lowlands[], and cannot be grown above 1,000 metres in Java[]. It flourishes in dry as well as moist areas of the Philippine lowlands[]. Large trees can tolerate occasional light frosts[]. The mean annual rainfall should lie in the range of 950 - 5,000mm, preferrably spread through the year but tolerant of a dry season of 2 - 5 months[]. The temperatures during the hot season is best around 32 - 35°c, in the cold season from 18 - 22°c, but not below 16°c[].
Prefers a position in full sun, but tolerant of some shade[, , ]. Prefers a fertile, well-drained, medium-acid soil, succeeding in clay loams, sandy clay loams with plenty of organic matter, limestone soils, volcanic soils and podsolic soils[, , ]. Plants are wind tolerant[].
Trees commence flowering about 5 - 7 years after germinating[]. Clonally propagated trees may flower after 3 - 4 years[].
There are several named varieties, developed for their superior fruits[].
Two 30 year old trees, in a botanic gardens, that had never fruited were put under stress by pounding large, heavy stones into the narrow forks of the main limbs - their first crops followed soon after[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. The whitish, translucent, subacid pulp of the fruit has a good flavour and is eaten fresh[, ]. The fruit can be either thin or thick-skinned with a pleasant sweetish or a somewhat sour pulp, according to variety[]. It can also be dried, used in making jams, jellies, marmalade etc[]. The fruit is about the size of a clenched fist and contains one, sometimes two, large seeds[], although there are also seedless varieties[].

Medicinal

The pounded leaves are sudorific when applied to the skin and are used to make a decoction against diarrhoea and fever[].

The powdered bark is an effective treatment for ringworms, and contains triterpenes with anti-cancer activity[].
Both the seeds and the stems are being studied for the anti-carcinogenic substances that they contain[].

The aromatic roots are employed as an anti-diarrhoeic, anti-spasmodic, carminative, antiseptic, astringent, stomachic and are prescribed as a general tonic after childbirth[]. The root can be bruised then soaked in vinegar and water to be used as an effective remedy for diarrhoea and dysentery[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is important in its native area in soil conservation[]. The tree is known to form vesicular arbiscular mycorrhizae, which is useful in soil improvement[].

Other Uses

The fragrant wood is used in perfumery[, ].

The bark is used for tanning fishing nets[].

The heartwood is pale red, yellowish-red or yellow-brown with a pink tinge; it can be indistinct or distinguishable from the pale white or pinkish sapwood. The grain is straight or slightly wavy; texture moderately fine to slightly coarse and even. The wood is light to moderate weight; moderately soft to moderately hard; fairly weak to moderately strong. The wood is durable under cover, but non-durable when exposed to the weather or in contact with the ground; it is susceptible to marine borer attack and moderately resistant to insect attack. It is easy to saw; can be planed and finished with good results, though occasionally a little furry; it takes a high polish. The wood is used for making furniture, cabinet work, joinery, interior construction, shop fitting, panelling, planking and decking of boats, scantlings, carving, butlers chopping blocks, packing cases, household and agricultural implements, for production of veneer,
plywood, blockboard, pulp and paper. It is used in the construction of traditional houses and boats[, , ]. Poles from the tree are used for fencing[].
A good fuel, the wood gives forth an aromatic aroma as it burns[]. It is used to make a good quality charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe since they have a short viability[]. Freshly sown, they have a germination rate of 90-95% in 16-31 days[]. Seeds grow away quickly[].
Budding.
Air layering.

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Captcha: if i have 3 bananas, and i eat them all, how many bananas did i just eat?