Common Name: Kampong

General Information

Oroxylum indicum is a fast-growing, lanky and sparsely limbed evergreen or partly deciduous tree with an open, irregular crown; it can grow 10 - 20 metres tall. The bole can be 40cm in diameter[].
A locally popular vegetable in southeast Asia, it is especially liked in Java where it is often sold in local markets[]. The plant is also widely used to supply a range of traditional remedies. A handsome specimen tree with bold, glossy foliage and extremely long and substantial fruits, it is often cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens of the tropics and subtropics[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - southern China, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.

Habitat

Lowland woodlands, clearings and waysides[]. Tropical and subtropical low altitude open forests, roadsides, slopes at elevations of 500 - 900 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bats
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of subtropical to tropical areas, it is tolerant of a wide range of climatic conditions, occurring mostly below elevations of 1,000 metres[].
Prefers a fertile, moisture-retentive soil in a sunny position or light shade[]. Tolerant of a wide range of soils[].
The plant has a curious habit of growth - it grows rapidly from seed to a height of 5 - 10 metres then flowers and stops further upward growth. Lower buds then break to give rise to stiffly erect branches[].
The flowers, which open of a night time, have a foetid smell that is attractive to bats[].
The tree is fairly short-lived[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves and flowers - raw or cooked[]. Eaten uncooked as a side dish with rice, usually with a mixture of various spices including chillies, red onions, candle nut, lemon grass and ginger[]. The young shoots can be eaten cooked as a vegetable[].
The cooked flowers, buds and young pods are highly esteemed as a vegetable[].

Fruit - cooked[]. Young fruits are cut into pieces, boiled and eaten with rice[]. Older fruits are grilled and added to curries[].

Seed. The unripe seed is grilled and served with chilli sauce[]. Mature seeds are used to make a refreshing drink known as chub liang[]. The seed is also an ingredient of Chyavanprash, a famous Ayurvedic food tonic[].

Medicinal

The plant has a long history of traditional medicinal use and modern research has shown that it contains a number of medically active compounds[].
The various parts of the plant are rich in flavonoids and glycosides and trials have shown various activities in the body. In particular, dichloromethane extracts of the stem bark and root have been shown to have antimicrobial activities against a range of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and also the yeast Candida albicans[].
The isolated flavonoid baicalin has shown inhibitory effects against the human T cell leukaemia virus type 1, and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1)[].

The bitter bark of the root is anti-allergic, astringent, blood purifier and tonic[, , ]. It is used in the treatment of allergic diseases, urticaria, jaundice, asthma, sore throats, laryngitis, stomach complaints, diarrhoea and dysentery[, , ].
An alcoholic maceration of the fresh bark is externally applied on allergic dermatitis[]. When mixed with turmeric, the bark is used for healing sores of animals[].
The root is credited with antirheumatic, antidysenteric and diuretic properties[].

The seeds and bark are used medicinally for alleviating body pain, especially during fevers[], and as an antiphlogistic medicine[, ]. It is also applied to burns and wounds[].
The juice of the bark is taken internally to treat diarrhoea and dysentery[]. A decoction of the bark is refrigerant, used in the treatment of fevers and jaundice[].

A decoction of the leaves is drunk as a treatment for stomach-ache[, ].
Applied externally the leaves are employed in the treatment of cholera, fever, childbirth and rheumatic swellings. The boiled leaves are used as a poultice during and after childbirth, and in dysentery as well as for an enlarged spleen. Leaf poultices may be further applied for toothache and headache[].

The seed is expectorant and laxative[]. A decoction is used in treating coughs, bronchitis and gastritis[].
The seeds are applied externally to ulcers[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing species, always encountered in canopy openings, secondary growth and thickets, it is quite possibly suitable for use as a pioneer species[].

Other Uses

The seeds are used as a lining of hats and to cover umbrellas[]. The papery and wined seeds are strung together as an offering to the gods and goddesses, especially by Buddhists[].

The fruit is used in tanning and dyeing[].
The bark is rich in tannins[].

The wood is soft. It can be used for making matches[]. With its long fibres, it is suitable for pulping to make paper[].
The wood is used for fuel[]. Of poor quality[].

Propagation

Seed - it is best to pre-soak in warm water for 24 hours prior to sowing. Sow the seed in a lightly shaded position in a nursery seedbed or individual containers. Germination is about 50%, with the seeds sprouting in 19 - 25 days[].
Stem cuttings.

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