Common Name: Jack In The Box

General Information

Jack in the box is a fairly fast-growing, handsome, evergreen tree with an open, irregular crown and showy panicles of flowers[]. It grows up to 10 metres tall[].
The plant is gathered from the wild for a range of local uses, and is also often grown as an ornamental in gardens and along streets[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Eastern Africa through tropical Asia to Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Habitat

Sparse forests near sea level in southern China[]. Moist coastal woodland, rocky and sandy coasts[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of lowland tropical climates[].
Prefers a rich, humid, moisture-retentive soil and a position in full sun[]. Well suited to coastal gardens in the tropics, tolerating maritime exposure[]. Established plants are moderately drought tolerant[].
Plants can flower intermittently all year round[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bark, seed, and young leaves are slightly purgative[].

Other Uses

The juice from the leaves is depilatory, destroying hair without pain[, ].

The seeds are often strung as necklaces[].

The oily seeds can be burnt as candles, though they produce a great deal of smoke[].

The greyish wood is soft and light in weight[]. It is sometimes used in the same ways as balsawood[]. It has been used for making canoes, but needs to be painted and protected from the weather or it soon becomes water-logged and useless[].
The wood catches fire easily, even from a spark generated by a flint and steel. It makes a good tinder[, ].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings of mature wood[].

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