Common Name:

General Information

Aporosa frutescens is a small, conical, dioecious tree or shrub that can grow up to 25 metres tall , though it is usually much smaller[].
The plant provides a mordant which is widely used in the Batik industry in Indonesia.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand to Indonesia and the Philippines.

Habitat

Rain forest at elevations up to 1,700 metres[]. It often grows in more open places in the forest and on wet ground, and is locally common[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	15.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A tree of the tropical rainforests, where it grows naturally at elevations up to 1,700 metres[, ].
Found in the wild on granitic or yellow-red loamy sand, red clay, blackish stony or a silty clay brown laterite[]. It succeeds in dry and swampy conditions, and is often found growing in shade[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The bark, called 'sasah' is used in the batik industry as a mordant, for fixing the red dye of Morinda citrifolia[]. Sometimes the leaves were used for that purpose[].
The bark is probably rich in aluminium, which explains its action as a mordant. No chemical analysis of this plant is available, but accumulation of aluminium is reported as common in the genus[]. The crushed leaves smell of alum, and the yellowish colour of dried leaves also indicates a high content of aluminium[]

The bark is also occasionally used to prepare a black dye[].

The wood is hard, yellow-brown, and radially striate[]. It is considered second-class, but is sometimes used for building houses and making tools[].

Propagation

Seed -

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