1- Introduction to the Species Sandoricum beccarianum Baill. - Santol tree
1.1- Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Meliaceae
Genus: Sandoricum
Species: Sandoricum koetjape (Burm.f.) Merr
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Meliaceae
Genus: Sandoricum
Species: Sandoricum koetjape (Burm.f.) Merr
1.2- Species Sandoricum koetjape (Burm.f.) Merr. - Santol tree
+ Overview
Sandoricum koetjape (santol or cottonfruit) is in the Genus Sandoricum, in the Family Meliaceae of the Order Sapindales. It is a tropical fruit tree grown in Southeast Asia.
+ Synonyms:
1- Melia koetjape Burm.f. (basionym)
2- Sandoricum indicum Cav.
3- Sandoricum nervosum Blume
+ The names:
- Scientific name: Sandoricum koetjape (Burm.f.) Merr.
- English names: Santol or cottonfruit.
- French names: faux mangoustanier, santol.
- Local names:
Filipino and Visayan: santol (from which the name Sandoricum originates).
Thai : krathon or sathon.
Malaysian: kecapi, kelampu, ranggu, sentul.
Indonesian: kecapi, ketuat, sentul
Vietnamese: Trái sấu
+ Overview
Sandoricum koetjape (santol or cottonfruit) is in the Genus Sandoricum, in the Family Meliaceae of the Order Sapindales. It is a tropical fruit tree grown in Southeast Asia.
+ Synonyms:
1- Melia koetjape Burm.f. (basionym)
2- Sandoricum indicum Cav.
3- Sandoricum nervosum Blume
+ The names:
- Scientific name: Sandoricum koetjape (Burm.f.) Merr.
- English names: Santol or cottonfruit.
- French names: faux mangoustanier, santol.
- Local names:
Filipino and Visayan: santol (from which the name Sandoricum originates).
Thai : krathon or sathon.
Malaysian: kecapi, kelampu, ranggu, sentul.
Indonesian: kecapi, ketuat, sentul
Vietnamese: Trái sấu
2- Characteristics of the Species Sandoricum koetjape (Burm.f.) Merr. - Santol tree
2.1- Description
+ The plant
Santol is a very elegant fast growing tree which cans attain height upto 50 m with a trunk diameter of up to 70 centimetres (28 in) and softly hairy young branches and leaves. It also makes a good shade tree.
+ The leaves
Leaves are groups of 3 leaflets, elliptic to oblong-ovate, 10 to 25 centimeter long, with pointed tips and round bases.
Leaves are mostly trifoliate, but sometimes the number of leaflets may be more; leaflets broadly ovate to ovate oblong, abruptly acuminate; flowers in narrow axillary panicles, yellow, faintly fragrant.
+ The flowers
The flowers are yellow-green to white. Flowers are numerous, somewhat fascicled, about 1 centimeter long, in greenish or yellowish clusters. The 5-petalled flowers, about 1 cm (3/8 in) long are borne on the young branchlets in loose, stalked panicles 15-30 cm (6 to 12 in) in length.
+ The fruits
The fruit (technically a capsule) is globose or oblate, with wrinkles extending a short distance from the base; 4-7.5 cm (1 1/2 to 3 in) wide; yellowish to golden, sometimes blushed with pink. The downy rind may be thin or thick and contains a thin, milky juice. It is edible, as is the white, translucent, juicy pulp (aril), sweet, subacid or sour, surrounding the 3 to 5 brown, inedible seeds which are up to 2 cm (3/4 in) long, tightly clinging or sometimes free from the pulp.
+ The seeds
The fruit contains 3 to 5 brown, inedible seeds which are up to 2 cm (3/4 in) long, tightly clinging or sometimes free from the pulp. Seeds are large, surrounded by a translucent or pale, sweet tasting edible pulp.
+ The plant
Santol is a very elegant fast growing tree which cans attain height upto 50 m with a trunk diameter of up to 70 centimetres (28 in) and softly hairy young branches and leaves. It also makes a good shade tree.
+ The leaves
Leaves are groups of 3 leaflets, elliptic to oblong-ovate, 10 to 25 centimeter long, with pointed tips and round bases.
Leaves are mostly trifoliate, but sometimes the number of leaflets may be more; leaflets broadly ovate to ovate oblong, abruptly acuminate; flowers in narrow axillary panicles, yellow, faintly fragrant.
+ The flowers
The flowers are yellow-green to white. Flowers are numerous, somewhat fascicled, about 1 centimeter long, in greenish or yellowish clusters. The 5-petalled flowers, about 1 cm (3/8 in) long are borne on the young branchlets in loose, stalked panicles 15-30 cm (6 to 12 in) in length.
+ The fruits
The fruit (technically a capsule) is globose or oblate, with wrinkles extending a short distance from the base; 4-7.5 cm (1 1/2 to 3 in) wide; yellowish to golden, sometimes blushed with pink. The downy rind may be thin or thick and contains a thin, milky juice. It is edible, as is the white, translucent, juicy pulp (aril), sweet, subacid or sour, surrounding the 3 to 5 brown, inedible seeds which are up to 2 cm (3/4 in) long, tightly clinging or sometimes free from the pulp.
+ The seeds
The fruit contains 3 to 5 brown, inedible seeds which are up to 2 cm (3/4 in) long, tightly clinging or sometimes free from the pulp. Seeds are large, surrounded by a translucent or pale, sweet tasting edible pulp.
2.2- Origin and Distribution
+ Origin:
The santol tree is believed native to former Indochina and Peninsular Malaysia, and to have been introduced into Sri Lanka, India, Borneo, Indonesia, the Moluccas, Mauritius, Seychelles and the Philippines where it has become naturalized.
+ Distribution:
Now santol trees are widely cultivated in warm tropical countries like North Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Phillipines, tropical Africa, Mexico, dan tropical Central and South America.
In Indonesia, they are called wild mangosteen, kecapi, or sentul. The fruit is round, about the size of an apple, with edible sweet-and-sour white pulp inside like mangosteen, but thicker and velvety skin; hence the name “wild mangosteen.”
+ Origin:
The santol tree is believed native to former Indochina and Peninsular Malaysia, and to have been introduced into Sri Lanka, India, Borneo, Indonesia, the Moluccas, Mauritius, Seychelles and the Philippines where it has become naturalized.
+ Distribution:
Now santol trees are widely cultivated in warm tropical countries like North Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Phillipines, tropical Africa, Mexico, dan tropical Central and South America.
In Indonesia, they are called wild mangosteen, kecapi, or sentul. The fruit is round, about the size of an apple, with edible sweet-and-sour white pulp inside like mangosteen, but thicker and velvety skin; hence the name “wild mangosteen.”
Edited by Ho Dinh Hai
Long An - Vietnam
References
1- http://www.worldwidefruits.com
2- http://www.worldwidefruits.com/orders-of-plants.html
3- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapindales
4- http://www.britannica.com/plant/Sapindales
5- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meliaceae
6- http://www.britannica.com/plant/Meliaceae
7- http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/meliacea.htm
8- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandoricum
9- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandoricum_koetjape
10- https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/santol.html
11- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandoricum_vidalii
Long An - Vietnam
References
1- http://www.worldwidefruits.com
2- http://www.worldwidefruits.com/orders-of-plants.html
3- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapindales
4- http://www.britannica.com/plant/Sapindales
5- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meliaceae
6- http://www.britannica.com/plant/Meliaceae
7- http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/meliacea.htm
8- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandoricum
9- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandoricum_koetjape
10- https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/santol.html
11- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandoricum_vidalii
See Video about: Santol Fruits
See Video about: Santol Fruit Review - Weird Fruit Explorer - Ep. 88
See Video about: Tasting a Santol Fruit | Sandoricum koetjape | HD Video