Common Name:

General Information

Ilex cissoidea is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 38 metres tall. The bole can be 70cm or more in diameter, it rarely has buttresses[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild mainly for local use as a source of wood, fuel and soap. It has potential for use as a pioneer species for restoring native forest.
Ilex cissoidea has a wide distribution and is often a dominant in primary and secondary forests. Although sometimes utilized for its wood, it is not considered to be at significany threat. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

Although no specific reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, Ilex species in general contain several potentially toxic compounds, particularly saponins, glycosides and triterpenoids. These compounds also often have a range of potential health benefits[, , ].
The berries are usually the part of the plant most likely to be toxic, though the degree of toxicity is usually low. Their bitter flavour usually prevents a person eating more than one or two, but even a small handful of the fruit eaten by a healthy adult is unlikely to cause more than feelings of nausea that can lead on to vomiting and diarrhoea[].
The compounds in the leaves are particularly interesting. The leaves of many Ilex species around the world are commonly used to make health-promoting teas that, when drunk on a regular basis, help to regulate bodily functions and can reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood-cholesterol levels etc (See Ilex paraguariensis or Ilex kaushue for examples)[]. Even these teas, however, if taken in very concentrated doses, can act as a laxative or cause vomiting. Indeed, several species are used by traditional peoples to induce vomiting as a means of purifying the body (see Ilex guayusa or Ilex vomitoria for examples)

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Indonesia (Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan), Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak), Brunei

Habitat

Locally common, growing in primary and secondary forests, often as a pioneer, along shady ridges and streams; at elevations up to 1,850 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	0.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Ilex species generally tolerate most soils that are not water-logged[].
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

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is often found growing as a pioneer in secondary forest formations[].

Other Uses

The leaves are dried and powdered, then stored in the internodes of bamboo stems for use as a bathing soap[, ].

The heartwood is white, darkening on exposure to yellow-brown, it is not differentiated from the sapwood. The density is medium, the grain is straight and the texture is fine but uneven due to the presence of the broad rays. The split surface has a considerable sheen. The timber is non-durable, subject to attacks by sapstain fungi., it is reported to season well with only slight splitting. This genus is rather rare in occurrence and coupled with its generally small size is very unlikely to be of any commercial importance. The timber has been tried successfully for match splints and may be a good furniture timber if available in large enough quantities[]. It is recommended mainly for general utility, furniture making and other non-structural applications[].
The wood is used for firewood[]. The smoke from the burning plant has no smell and so it is traditionally used for drying the yeast that is used for brewing alcohol[].

Propagation

Seed -

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