Symplocos cochinchinensis is a variable species with a wide range from Nepal, northeast India and southern China to New Guinea, Australia and the Pacific. It is currently (19/03/2022) considered to comprise of 25 subspecies and varieties, many of which have narrow geographical ranges.
The reports of medicinal use for Symplocos cochinchinensis, especially in India, are usually for the subspecies Symplocos cochinchinensis subsp. laurina (Retz.) Noot.. This subspecies in currently (21/03/2022) treated as a synonym of Symplocos acuminata (Blume) Miq., and the medicinal uses are detailed there[].

Common Name:

General Information

Symplocos cochinchinensis is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 35 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole is up to 50cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food, dye and source of beads, tannins and wood. The variety sessifolia is used as a pioneer species when reclaimimg crater fields in volcanic areas.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea to Australia and Fiji.

Habitat

An understorey tree in primary mixed dipterocarp forest and the more open, secondary formations; growing on the slopes of hills and on ridges, sometimes by streams; on brown soils; at elevations up to 1,800 metres, most common above 1,300 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The very young growth of the variety sessifolia is sometimes eaten as a lalab (a vegetable salad served with sambal)[].

Medicinal

This species is often cited as an important medicinal plant in India (often under the Ayurvedic name Lodhra), but these uses should be attributed to Symplocos acuminata - see information above on taxonomy[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Symplocos cochinchinensis var. sessifolia is very resistant against poisonous crater gases and acid soil conditions. It can act as a pioneer species in crater fields in Java, sometimes dwarfing down to very small size, although still producing flowers and fruit; in the surrounding closed elfin forest it is a common small tree, growing together with Vaccinium, Myriea, Myrsine, Leptospermum, etc[].

Other Uses

Many species in this genus accumulate aluminium, especially in their leaves and bark. Those species where the leaves turn yellow upon drying contain the largest quantities of aluminiun (up to 4.2% dry weight). Thus many Symplocos species can be used as the source of a yellow dye, and can also be used as a mordant[, , ].
The bark is rich in tannin and aluminium. A decoction of the bark is used to produce yellow red and brown dyes that have been used in the Batik industry in Java[, ].

Women wear the seeds as beads, especially after giving birth, as a protection against evil spirits[].

The white to yellow sapwood is moderately hard. The wood is used for heavier construction, such as house posts and frames[, ].

Propagation

Seed -

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: a square has how many sides?