Soap tree, Red Ash, Red Almond, Leather jacket
A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows best on medium well drained soils. It needs a sheltered position and in shade. It is drought and frost resistant. It will grow on a range of soils. It will grow in the tropical lowlands as well as in frosty places in Central Australia. It is a very hardy plant. It suits hardiness zones 9-10.
Also known as:
Wilirda
Synonyms
- Possibly a mixed species of: Alphitonia excelsa (Fenzl.) Benth.
- Rhamnus zizyphoides Solander ex Forst.f.
- Rhamnus zizyphoides Spreng.
Edible Portion
- Fruit, Leaves
Where does Soap tree grow?
Found in: Asia, Australia, Brunei, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, SE Asia
Notes: There are (6) 20 Alphitonia species. The fruit are used as a fish poison.
Status: It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.
Growing Soap tree, Red Ash, Red Almond, Leather jacket
Cultivation: The plants can be grown from seed. Fresh seed should be used. The seed need to be treated before sowing. They germinate poorly. Plants can also be grown from cuttings.
Edible Uses: The fruit have been reported as eaten when ripe but this needs to be checked. CAUTION: It may contain poison. It needs special processing before eating. The leaf tips are chewed. They contain saponin.
Production: It is a quick growing plant. Fruit are ripe from October to January. (May to July). Ripe fruit can persist on the tree for a few months.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Soap tree, Red Ash, Red Almond, Leather jacket Photos
References
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