Maclura cochinchinensis (Lour.) Corner
Family
Moraceae
Synonyms
Cudrania javanensis Trécul, Maclura javanica Blume, Cudrania cochinchinensis (Lour.) Kudo & Masam.
Vernacular Names
| Malaysia | Kederang, kedrae. |
| Indonesia |
Kayu kuning (General), tegeran, soga tegeran (Javanese). |
| Thailand | Kae kong (Phrae), kae lae (Central), klae (Peninsular). |
| Philippines | Kokom-pusa (Ilokano), talolong (Ilokano, Igorot), patdang-labuyo (Tagalog). |
| Cambodia | Khlaè, nhoër khlaay. |
| Vietnam | Dây mo’qua. |
Geographical Distributions
Maclura cochinchinensis is extremely widely distributed. It is found from the Himalayas in Nepal and India to Japan, and south through Malesia to the Bismarck Archipelago, New Caledonia, and eastern Australia.
Description
Maclura cochinchinensis is a branched thorny shrub, scrambler or even becomes a liana. The stems are up to 10 m long, and measuring up to 15 cm in diametre, and with long thorns on the nodes which contain latex. The bark is light greyish or brownish.
The leaves are arranged spirally, elliptic to oblong or obovate, measuring (2-)4-9(-11) cm x 1-3.5(-5) cm, entire, with wedge-shaped base, obtuse to shortly acuminate at apex and mucronate, hairless or sparsely pubescent, shortly petiolate and with caducous stipules.
The inflorescences are axillary, usually in pairs but also solitary, short-stalked, headed, bracteate and unisexual. The male heads are 7-10 mm in diametre, and with 4-staminate flowers while the female heads are 6-8 mm in diametre and contain flowers with a slender stigma.
The fruiting heads are composed of accrescent fleshy perianth and bracts that form a headed syncarp. They are 15-20 mm in diametre, and turning from yellow to orange and red when ripen. The brown seeds are rounded and measure about 5 mm across.
Ecology / Cultivation
Maclura cochinchinensis grows in lowland forests up to 1800 m altitude. It can be found in thickets and brushwoods. Locally, it is common.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
- Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 3: Dye and tannin-producing plants.
