Sapindaceae

Native: Philippines, Borneo and East Malaysia

Systematic Position

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Streptophyta

Order: Sapindales

Family: Sapindaceae

Common Names

English – Johore Tree

Malayalam – കുളമട്ടി

Description: An evergreen small tree or shrub reaching up to 15m hight. Leaves paripinnately compound with 20-45 cm long, glabrous. Leaflets opposite, sessile or short petiolate. Inflorescence often drooping, monoecious.  Flowers are borne in clusters which grow up to 45 cm in length, scentless, with 5 purples to wine red colored petals. About 3-5 flowers on 2-7 mm long pedicels. The fruits produced by Lepisanthes alata are small and yellow in color. They are quite sour in taste and usually ripen by the end of summer. Fruits are apparently dark brownish purple to nearly black when ripe, pulp rather thick, fleshy, white.

Distribution:  All throughout the world.

Uses: The fruit pulp is sweet and edible. Cultivated in gardens.