Pedalai Artocarpus sericicarpus

Pingan Artocarpus sarawakensis

Meritam or Pulasan Nephelium mutabile

Isau Dimocarpus melesianus

Tampoi Baccaurea spp.

Dabai Canarium odontophyllum

Engkala Litsea garciae

Plajau Pentaspadon motleyi

Kandis Garcinia spp.

Pedalai Artocarpus sericicarpus

The pedalai comes from northern Borneo, the Philippines, Sulawesi and the Moluccas. It is a very rare specimen in the Mixed Depterocarp Forest Borneo where it grows naturally up to a height of 40 metres. It is occasionally seen growing on the steep, clay hillsides of the inland regions. The foliage consists of very large (40 X 25 cms) handsome, dark green leaves, spectacularly digitately lobed when young but entire when mature.

The pedalai bears some very beautiful, eye-catching, bright orange skinned fruits, globular in shape and about 15 cms in diameter. Small soft protrusions on the fruit surtace sprout curly, yellow hairs like a giant rambutan. Pedalai is similar to the marang inside, but has a superior flavour, firmer flesh and slightly larger segments. The sweet, creamy-white flesh is easy to eat and like the marang the segments cling to the central core when the skin is removed. As with all the Artocarpus species the seeds are edible and those of the pedalai are considered to be some of the tastiest. They may be boiled, roasted or fried. Fruit odour is not as strong as it is with the fruit of the marang, Artocarpus odoratissimus.

The tree grows rapidly in fertile, alluvial soils. Partial shade is bebeficial during the early years of growth.

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Pingan Artocarpus sarawakensis

The pingan is a rare tree from Sarawak. Its foliage consists of some large (up to 60 cm), deep gree, undivided leaves that are rather ornamental and have a covering of golden hairs on the petiole (leaf stalk).

The orange-brown fruits (75 to 100 mm in diameter) are covred in short, stubby projections like the marang. The flesh inside is similar to that of the marang, but the segments are smaller. The flavour is good, like the pedalai.

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Meritam or Pulasan Nephelium mutabile

This very popular and widely cultivated fruit is native to Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. It is a rare specimen that is found growing naturally in the Mixed Dipterocarp Forest to an altitude of about 1100 metres, mainly on alluvial soils. The tree is very similar in appearance to the rambutan and usually grows to a maximum height of 12 metres under orchard conditions. Given favourable growing conditions it fruits in about five years on a 5 to 6 metre high tree.

The fruit are covered in whorls of small protuberances. They are larger, softer, juicier and more acidic than those of the rambutan. At the same time they remain quite sweet and refreshing. They are more flavoursome than lychees and are somewhat reminiscent of sweet purple grapes. The fruits can be eaten very green (four to six weeks before maturity) and still possess an excellent flavour, although they are a little more acidic than when fully ripe.

There are several varieties of meritam with at least four found in Borneo. These include green, yellow, dark red and purple types. There is also a variety from West malaysia that bears large sized fruit.

The culture and microclimate are similar to that required for rambutan. Establishment of plants under Gliricidia trees, or other suitable shelter is recommended. The meritam appears to bear fruit that is true to type (or nearly so from seed).

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Isau Dimocarpus melesianus

The isau is native to Sarawak and East Sabah. It is a rare specimen that is occasionally seen growing in the Mixed Dipterocarp Forest on fertile, clay soils. In the 1st division, Sarawak, the tree was found growing to a height of 18 metres on limestone soils in the low hills. In the 3rd division a 15 metre high tree was observed growing in the sandy clay of a riverbank. Some isau trees were also seen under cultivation, especially adjacent to the river systems. They were smaller orchard speciments with dense, rounded crowns, usually only growing to 10 metres. Leaves ( 75 X 25 mm) are dark green when mature and a beautiful deep red colour in new growth flushes.

Isau fruits are borne in dense clusters on the outside of the tree foliage. They are small (25mm), round and mid-green in colour. Their thin, brittle shells are covered in small bumps and are easily opened. Fruit flesh is translucent, 4 to 6 mm thick and surrounds a single, chocolate-brown seed. Isau fruits are very similar to those of the longan. They are sweet and juicy with a delicious musky or melon like flavour reminiscent of a very sweet watermelon. Other names for the isau include menyau, merakiang and ensiru.

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Tampoi Baccaurea spp.

There are many species of tampoi found throughout Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia, Java, Sumatra and the Philippines. Some tampoi names include ajong, larah, engkuni, puak, pugi, levan, luung keio, and umpo. Several species such as Baccaurea costulata are rare and are occasionally seen in the Mixed Dipterocarp Forest in parts of Sarawak.

They grow in lowland, clay-rich soils (sometimes in sand or limestone types) or on the lower slopes of the mountains. The tampoi is a small to medium-sized tree with smooth, broad, mid-green leaves.

Its pink or white flowers grow in long racemes from the trunk and main branches. Tampoi trees are dioecious, requiring separate male and femal trees for fruiting.

All tampoi trees are cold sensitive and should only be grown in warm, frost-free areas. They prefer partial shade for the first few growing years, or permanently. They are slow and difficult to grow outside of their natural forest habitats. Three trees should be grown together.

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Dabai Canarium odontophyllum

Dabai is native to Sarawak and Brunei, growing in altitudes up to 700 metres. it is a very handsome, medium-sized (maximum 21 metres), upright growing tree with large, pinnate leaves. Clusters of olive-like fruits are held above the dark gree foliage. Leaves are thin and furry and the twigs are covered with golden down. New foliage emerges like fists of green or red velvet.

Dabai fruits are a startling white colour when immature, turning blue-black when ripe. They are oblong in shape (35 to 40 mm long by 20 to 25 mm wide) and have a thin, edible skin. The white or yellow flesh inside is 4 to 7 mm thick and covers a single. large three angled seed. The flavour is unique, the texture thick and oily like a good avocado. The fruits are prepared by soaking them in hot water (55 C) for about tenminutes until they soften. They are eaten with a little soy sauce or salt, with a meal or as a savoury snack. They represent a rich energy source with good amounts of oils and proteins. The kernel or nut is also edible.

Dabai trees are dioecious with separate male and female trees required for fruiting. They are very heavy bearers and yields of up to 800 kilograms per tree have been recorded. A planting distance of 9 metres is recommended. Prune bck young trees to produce more bushy growth.

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Engkala Litsea garciae

A relative of the avocado, this wonderful little savoury fruit comes as a welcome change from the usually sweet tropical fruits. The tree comes from Sarawak and South-west Sabah where it can be seen growing along riverbanks and scattered near villages. The foliage looks somewhat like that of the avocado, however the leaves are longer and droop more gracefully. There have been attempts to cultivate the engkala in Java. In Sabah it is called pong labon.

The round fruits (35 to 45 mm in diameter), flattened top and bottom, have thin, edible bright pink skins. Medium to thick flesh surrounds the single, avocado-like seed (15 to 20 mm). It is creamy-white and similar to avocado, but softer with a more delicate flavour. The fruit is prepared by rolling it around a basket, or hitting it with the back of a spoon. The seeds are a source of fat and are used to manufacture candles and soap.

The engkala grows rapidly and tolerates high light levels if well watered.

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Plajau Pentaspadon motleyi

The plajau is also known as uping, lakacho and plasin. It is often seen growing along the riverbanks and riverflats throughout Sarawak and Sabah. It is a medium-sized tree with dark green, pinnate leaves. The twigs and new growth are red in colour. It is rather ornamental with a feathery crown and some showy, conspicuous flowers. The edible kernel is shaped like an almond, but more flattened, and is 20 to 25 mm long. It has a pleasant taste when fried. There is a mildly irritating property in the sponge-like shells, so care should be taken when opening them.

Plajau is a vigorous specimen that reaches 1.5 metres in the first year of growth.

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Kandis Garcinia spp.

Throughout Sarawak and Sabah there are various Garcinia species commonly referred to as kandis by the locals. They are invariably small, acid fruits with a varying degree of sweetness and a melting mangosteen like texture and flavour. The tree is small to medium in size and grows as a lower storey forest specimen, tolerating deep shade. They flower seasonally, usually at night, and emit a powerful smell which has been described as being like 'highly seasoned gravy'. Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees. Garcinia forbesii bears skin with a red skin and a white, good flavoured flesh.

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