Eden

Penang Botanic Gardens Plant Collection

Antiaris toxicaria Lesch. (MORACEAE)

Posted at — Nov 13, 2019
Ipoh Tree, Upas Tree, Sacking Tree

Description

Large deciduous, monoecious tree to 40 m tall with spreading crown. Leaves elliptic to obovate, 7-19 cm long. Flower heads on leafy twigs, male inflorescence boat-like, c. 1.5 cm wide, female pear-shaped, single flowered. Fruit, a drupe ripening red to purple-red, c. 2 cm diameter.

Ecology

Lowland to lower montane forest.

Distribution

India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, S China, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea and N Australia.

Uses

The latex of the tree is poisonous (a cardiac glycoside) and used with sap of Strychnos sp. In dart and arrow poison for hunting and warfare purposes. The timber is sold as a light hardwood. The bark is prepared as a coarse bark cloth for clothing.