Aleurites moluccanus

Synonyms

Aleurites ambinux Pers., Aleurites angustifolius Vieill. ex Guillaumin, Aleurites angustifolius Vieill., Aleurites commutatus Geiseler, Aleurites cordifolius (Gaertn.) Steud., Aleurites integrifolius Vieill. ex Guillaumin, Aleurites integrifolius Vieill., Aleurites javanicus Gand., Aleurites lanceolatus Blanco, Aleurites lobatus Blanco, Aleurites pentaphyllus Wall. [Invalid], Aleurites remyi Sherff, Aleurites trilobus J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Camerium moluccanum (L.) Kuntze, Camirium cordifolium Gaertn., Camirium oleosum Reinw. ex Blume, Dryandra oleifera Lam., Jatropha moluccana L., Mallotus moluccanus (L.) Müll.Arg., Manihot moluccana (L.) Crantz, Ricinus dicoccus Roxb., Rottlera moluccana (L.) Scheff., Telopea perspicua Sol. ex Seem.

Common name
Kemiri, kembiri, buah keras, Candlenut tree, Indian walnut, lumbang tree

Morphology

Leaves
Arranged alternate and simple. The stipules are small and early caducous. The petiole is up to 30 cm long and bears a pair of small and green-brown glands at the top on the upper side. The blade in young trees and suckers are subcircular in outline, measures up to 30 cm in diametre, with a cordate base and 3-5 triangular lobes. The blade in adult trees are ovate-triangular or ovate-oblong, measuring 12-23 cm x 6-12 cm, with entire or slightly sinuate margin, pointed at apex, curved and drooping and dark green with a silvery gloss.

Inflorescence
10-20 cm long, thyrsoid and terminal or upper-axillary. The flowers are unisexual, borne on a small pedicel and white. The female flowers terminate the ultimate branchlets of the cymes while the male flowers are much more numerous, smaller, open earlier and arranged around the female flowers in bunches. The sepal is 2-3-lobed at the anthesis. There are 5 lance-shaped petals which are 6-7 mm long in male flowers and 9-10 mm in female ones. There are 5 disk glands. The male flowers are with 10-20 stamens, arranged in 3-4 series with the outer ones free and the inner ones connate whereas the female flowers are 2-4-locular, with hairy ovary and 2-4 deeply bipartite styles.

Fruit
Drupaceous, laterally compressed, ovoid-spherical and 2-seeded or semi spherical and 1-seeded, measuring 5-6 cm x 4-7 cm, hairy, indehiscent and olive-green with whitish flesh. The seed is compressed-spherical and measures up to 3 cm x 3 cm. The endocarp is thick, bony and rough while the albumen is thick and rich in oil.

Plant part used
Seeds

Traditional uses

• Treat stomach and bowel disorders in children, asthma, bad breath, skin sores or ulcers, swollen womb and rejuvenation of the body after poisoning. 
• Fresh leaves of A. moluccana are used in poultices for swelling, deep bruises, and other ailments where local concentration of heat and sweating is desired.
• The boiled leaves are applied externally to treat headaches and gonorrhoea

Aleurites moluccanus (Linnaeus,1753)

Nur Athirah Roshaizi

Nur Athirah Roshaizi

English