Edible: Leaves, Fruit
A tree reaching a height of 5-20 m and about 30 cm across the trunk. It can be 40 m tall with a trunk 1 m across. The old branches are usually crooked with furrows along them. The leaves are 5 to 15 cm long and 4-7 cm wide and pointed at the tip. Young leaves are reddish brown and leaves are shiny on top. The young stems are very rough. The flowers are very small and occur in greenish yellow clusters in axils of leaves. They occur with separate sexes in separate flowers. The fruit is a flattened berry with soft juicy flesh and a red colour. The trunk in young trees has many simple spines. The leaf size and shape varies a lot.
A tropical plant. It grows in humid tropical conditions. It can grow in shade as well as full sun. They occur in Benguet to the southern parts of the islands of the Philippines. Trees occur in tall lowland rainforest. They probably grow from sea level up to about 1600 m in Papua New Guinea. In Samoa it grows from 50 to 550 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.
Common Names: Rukam, Aganas, Amaiit, Bitongol, Chemechong, Filimoto, Firmoto, Ganda rukem, Hong quan, Indian prune, Kalominga, Kaluminga, Ken, Khrop-dong, Klang tatah kutang, Kupa landak, Meptengkek, Mung guan ru'ung, Pohon rukem jambon, Rokam, Rukam bubur, Rukam gajah, Rukam manis, Rukem, Ta khop thai, Takho-thai, Tepetatah, Ukam
Synonyms:
Flacourtia edulis Griff.;
Flacourtia euphlebia Merr.;
Flacourtia megaphylla Ridl.;
Flacourtia peninsula Elm.;
Flacourtia rukam var. domestica Ridl.;
Flacourtia rukam var. erythrocarpa Ridl.;
Flacourtia rukam var. micronesica Fosberg & Sachet;
Flacourtia rukam var. myriantha Merr.;
Flacourtia sulcata Elm.;
Hisingera grandifolia Turcz.;