Epicharis cuneata commonly known as Stem Dysoxylum
Epicharis cuneata commonly known as Stem Dysoxylum is a tree from the Meliaceae family, native to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sumatra, Bangka, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, and Philippines. This tree is currently listed as a vulnerable species in Singapore.
It is a dioecious tree up to 30 m tall, with male and female flowers on separate individuals. Its smooth, grey bark is covered with lenticels. Its clusters of flowers and fruits are found on the tree trunk and main branches, usually from ground level up.
Its spirally arranged, stalked, pinnate leaves are up to 60 cm long, with 4–6 pairs of opposite, oval shaped leaflets. The terminal leaflets are drop-shaped. The stalks of the leaflets are swollen at the base.
Small white to pinkish or cream flowers are produced in cauliflorous spikes about 8 cm long. They are sweetly scented and smell like almond and musk.
Its fruits are top-shaped, 3–5-chambered and 4 cm wide. These mature to a red color and develop either solitarily or in clusters from the trunk. Its fruit wall has milky latex. The seeds are 1–4 per fruit, each is about 2 cm long. Fruits are consumed by forest animals.
A poultice made from its fruit is used to treat rheumatism, whereas a poultice from the root is effective against abdominal pains. The tree is also a good source of timber.
It occurs locally in Central Catchment Nature Reserve, along Chestnut Track, in the vicinity of Kallang Reservoir, and Nee Soon Swamp Forest.
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Reference
Plants of Singapore
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