Rukam
A tropical plant. It grows in humid tropical conditions. It can grow in shade as well as full sun. They occur in Benguet to the southern parts of the islands of the Philippines. Trees occur in tall lowland rainforest. They probably grow from sea level up to about 1600 m in Papua New Guinea. In Samoa it grows from 50 to 550 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.
Also known as:
Aganas, Amaiit, Bitongol, Chemechong, Filimoto, Firmoto, Ganda rukem, Hong quan, Indian prune, Kalominga, Kaluminga, Ken, Khrop-dong, Klang tatah kutang, Kupa landak, Meptengkek, Mung guan ru'ung, Pohon rukem jambon, Rokam, Rukam bubur, Rukam gajah, Rukam manis, Rukem, Ta khop thai, Takho-thai, Tepetatah, Ukam
Synonyms
- Flacourtia edulis Griff.
- Flacourtia euphlebia Merr.
- Flacourtia megaphylla Ridl.
- Flacourtia peninsula Elm.
- Flacourtia rukam var. domestica Ridl.
- Flacourtia rukam var. erythrocarpa Ridl.
- Flacourtia rukam var. micronesica Fosberg & Sachet
- Flacourtia rukam var. myriantha Merr.
- Flacourtia sulcata Elm.
- Hisingera grandifolia Turcz.
Edible Portion
- Leaves, Fruit
Where does Rukam grow?
Found in: Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, Chuuk, Cook Islands, Cuba, East Africa, East Timor, Fiji, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Micronesia, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Pohnpei, Rotuma, Samoa, Sarawak, SE Asia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna
Notes: There are about 17 Flacourtia species. Also put in the Flacourtiaceae family.
Status: In Papua New Guinea, trees occur but are not very common in coastal areas.
Growing Rukam
Cultivation: Trees are mostly self sown. They grow from seed. Seed germinate quickly and easily. Trees can be grown from seed or root suckers. Root suckers are commonly produced. Fruit are made sweeter by rubbing them after harvest. Trees can also be budded or grafted. Trees are spaced 8-12 m apart.
Edible Uses: The fruit are eaten raw when ripe. The fruit are rolled between the hands to reduce the astringency. It can be sour and is used for jam, sauce or pickles. The young leaves and shoots are edible. The young roots are edible.
Production: Fruiting is seasonal. There can be several flowering and fruiting flushes during the year. Fruit are often produced about September to November in the southern hemisphere. Fruit take 14 weeks to ripen.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 83 | 1.7 | - | - | - | - | 77 |
Rukam Photos
References
Rukam references Flacourtia rukam
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