Allophylus cobbe

Allophylus cobbe, or titberry, is a plant bearing alternately and spirally arranged ternate leaves belonging to the family Sapindaceae. The edible fruit is three chambered like Sapindus trifoliatus.

Allophylus cobbe
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Allophylus
Species:
A. cobbe
Binomial name
Allophylus cobbe
(L.) Raeusch.[1]
Synonyms
  • Pometia pinnata J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
  • Rhus cobbe L.

Distribution

Allophyllus cobbe is a variable plant with a broad distribution in India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, and Papua New Guinea.[2]

Description

The plants size is 10 metres (33 ft) high and 13 m (43 ft) in width. It has no stipules. The leaves of a plant are trifoliolate, while the leaflets are penni-veined, and could be from densely to glabrous hairy. The flower size is approximately 3 millimetres (0.12 in) in diameter, and are yellow-whitish coloured. The fruits are red in colour and are 8 mm (0.31 in) in diameter.[3]

Ecology

The plant grows in mixed dipterocarp ecosystems. It can also be found in coastal and sub-montane forests at an altitude of 1,700 m (5,600 ft). It grow commonly along rivers and streams (tidal included), on hillsides, and forest edges. It grows on sandy or clay soils, and can also be found on limestone and ultrabasic environments. It can exist as a pre-disturbance remnant in secondary forests.[3]

Uses

The plant can be used for roofing, firewood and bows.[2] It can also be used for making rafts and fish traps. The bark, roots and leaves of the tree could be used to treat fever and stomach ache. The fruits, although edible, could be used as fish poison.[3]

Other names of a plant

In Borneo the plant is called pamaman.[3]

References

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