Common Name: Malay Lac Tree

General Information

Malay lac tree is a rather slow-growing, briefly deciduous tree that can reach a height of 40 metres[, ]. The bole, which is usually crooked and slightly buttressed, can be up to 2 metres in diameter, but is usually less[, ].
A multipurpose tree, supplying food, medicine and a range of commodities for local use. It is occasionally cultivated throughout the tropics, especially in India[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

Occurs spontaneously in dry, mixed deciduous forest and savannah with only scattered trees, sometimes gregariously[]. Found at elevations from sea level to about 980 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants succeed in tropical and subtropical areas, usually al low elevations but sometimes at up to 1,200 metres above sea level[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 30 - 42°c, but can tolerate 10 - 47°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -4°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 2,300mm, but tolerates 750 - 2,800mm[].
Succeeds in full sun and also in light shade[]. Plants are tolerant of a range of soil types, so long as they are well drained, but grow best on deep, rich, acid soils that are rich in organic matter[]. It grows on rather dry to occasionally swampy locations on various, often rocky, gravelly or loamy, well drained, preferable slightly acid soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7.8[].
A fire-resistant tree[].
Trees are dioecious. Male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seeds are required[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves and shoots - raw, cooked in soups or steamed and served with rice[, , ].

The ripe fruit is eaten raw[]. A pleasantly acid flavour[, ]. Unripe fruits are pickled[, ]. The fruit is a broadly ovoid, ellipsoid to subglobular berry 15 - 25mm x 10 - 20mm[].

An oil obtained from the seed, called macassar oil, is sometimes used for culinary purposes[, ]. It contains cyanogenic compounds, which may cause giddiness and should be removed if the oil is used for human consumption[].

Medicinal

Powdered seeds are applied to wounds and ulcers of cattle to remove maggots[].

The bark is astringent and is used against leprotic ruptures, skin inflammations and ulcers, while an infusion is taken against malaria[, ]. The bark contains about 10% tannin and the analgesic compound lupeol[]. The antitumor agents betulin and betulic acid have also been isolated from it[].

In traditional medicine, the oil obtained from the seed is applied externally to cure itching, acne and other skin afflictions[, ]. Massaging the oil into the scalp is said to promote the growth of hair lost through baldness[].

The pulp of the fruit is astringent and appetite inducing[].

Other Uses

An oil extracted from the seed, called 'kusum oil', is a valuable component of true Macassar oil used in hairdressing[]. It is also used for lighting purposes[, , ]. The oil is also used in the batik industry, and in southern India, as a cooling bath oil[]
The oil content of the kernel varies from 59-72%[]. The oil is yellowish-brown and semi-solid and consists of oleic acid (52%), arachidic acid (20%), stearic acid (10%), gadoleic acid (9%)[].

The bark contains about 10% tannin and a dye[, ].

The heartwood is reddish to pinkish-brown; it is clearly demarcated from the sapwood. The wood is very hard, very heavy, very strong[, , ]. It is durable in water according to some reports[, ], but not durable according to another[]. It cracks very easily during seasoning[, ]. It is difficult to work, being very hard to saw, though it can be planed to a very smooth surface which takes a high, lasting polish[, ]. An excellent wood for making pestles, cartwheels, axles, ploughs, tool handles and rollers of sugar mills and oil presses, it is also used in house construction, ship building and musical instruments[, ].
The wood is suitable as firewood and makes excellent charcoal[, , ]. The energy value of the wood is about 20 800 kJ/kg[].

Propagation

Seed - sow direct in thoroughly prepared soil[].

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