Pelajau, Plajau, Pelong Tree, White Pelon Tree

Pelajau, Pentaspadon motley, is a plant species belonging to the family Anacardiaceae and found in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea. It is endangered by the loss of habitat. The fruits and seeds are edible after cooking. In the native tropical range, it is found in lowland undisturbed primary forests up to an altitude of 200 meters. It mostly occurs in swamps, repeatedly inundated areas, and along rivers and streams on sandy to clayey soils. Usually, it is found as a pre-disturbance remnant in secondary forests. Naturally, it occurs in low-lying and undulating land especially near streams and in seasonal swamp forests. Leaves measure 10 to 30 cm long with 7 to 9 leaflets. Usually, leaflets are opposite with pointed apex having rounded base and pinkish color when young. The bark is grey-white with pink inner bark and has whitish sap when cut. Timber is light hardwood with light yellow-green heartwood. Sapwood is white having a green tinge when fresh measuring 2-3 cm wide and not clearly differentiated. The soil is light reddish loam and shallow having underlying rock and granite and also good drainage.

Name Pelajau
Scientific Name Pentaspadon motleyi
Native Native to Malaysia (peninsular, Sarawak and Sabah); Indonesia (Kalimantan, Irian Jaya, Sumatra), Papua New Guinea (Gulf and Madang Provinces), Bougainville and the Solomon Islands.
Common/English Name Pelajau, Plajau, Pelong Tree, White Pelon Tree
Name in Other Languages Indonesia: Plajau (Sumatra), Djuping, Empelanjau, Empit, Kedondong, Panjau, Letjut, Pelajau, Pelasit, Peladjau, Pilajau, Plajau, Planjau, Praju, Polajo, Umpit, Tampison, Vpie (Kalimantan);
Malaysia: Pelong Licin, Kedondong (Peninsular), Plajau, Lakacho, Plasin Uping (Sarawak), Empelanjau, Pelajau (Sabah);
New Guinea: Ailala, Laleua, Laleva;
Borneo: Djuping, Empelanjau, Empit, Kedondong, Panjau, Letjut, Pelajau, Pelasit, Peladjau, Pilajau, Planjau, Plajau, Praju, Polajo, Umpit, Tampison, Vpie
Plant Growth Habit Emergent, tall tree
Plant Size 51 m tall and 70 cm dbh
Bark Scaly, grey-brown
Leaf Alternate, compound, imparipinnate, 10-20 cm long
Flower Small, 4 mm in diameter, cream
Fruit shape & size Fleshy ovoid, pointed drupe, 3–5 cm by 2–2.75 cm
Fruit color Greenish-brown
Seed Ovoid, oblong compressed

Pelajau Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Pentaspadon motleyi

Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
Phylum Tracheophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Sapindales
Family Anacardiaceae
Genus Pentaspadon Hook.f.
Species Pentaspadon motleyi Hook.f.
Synonyms
  • Nothoprotium sumatranum Miq.
  • Pentaspadon moszkowskii Lauterb.
  • Pentaspadon minutiflora B. L. Burtt
  • Pentaspadon officinalis Holmes
  • Pentaspadon officinalis Holmes ex King
  • Rhus novoguineensis Laut

Plant description

Pentaspadon motley is a tall tree measuring 51 meters in height and 70 cm dbh with thin spreading buttresses and scaly or grey-brown bark. Leaves are compound, alternate, imparipinnate measuring 10–20 cm long having 7 to 9 dark green leaflets which are pink when young. Leaflets are opposite and about 5–13 cm × 2–6 cm. It has a pointed apex and rounded base, penni-veined having 6 to 10 pairs of secondary nerves and hairy domatia in axils of secondary nerves. Flowers are small, cream-colored, and about 4 mm in diameter. The bisexual flowers have imbricate petals and five fertile stamens that alternate with five sterile staminodes and one-celled ovary having a short style. Fruit is a drupe which is fleshy ovoid, greenish-brown, 3–5 cm by 2–2.75 cm which contains one large, ovoid and oblong compressed seed.

Traditional uses

  • In Sarawak, use the sap as oil for the itch, skin diseases, and scabies.
  • Stems resin is used to calm down the itchiness of the skin.

Culinary uses

  • Consume the fruits fresh, cooked, fried, or roasted.
  • The kernel offers a pleasant taste when roasted or fried.
  • Add the kernels to the soup.
  • Boil the fruits.

 


References

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