Lepisanthes alata, also called the Johore tree, blimbing cina,[2] ceri or engkili, is a species of flowering plant, a tropical forest fruit-tree in the lychee family, that is native to Southeast Asia.[3]

Lepisanthes alata
A drawing of L. alata in Fleurs, fruits et feuillages choisis de l'ille de Java by Berthe Hoola van Nooten
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Lepisanthes
Species:
L. alata
Binomial name
Lepisanthes alata
Synonyms[1]
  • Capura alata (Blume) Teijsm. & Binn.
  • Otolepis alata (Blume) Kuntze
  • Otophora alata Blume
  • Otophora edulis C.E.C.Fisch.

Description

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The species grows as a small monoecious tree to 5–15 m in height. The pinnate leaves have 5–13 pairs of usually sessile, lance-shaped to oblong leaflets. The pendulous inflorescences bear wine-red to purple flowers. The glossy oval fruits are drupes 2–4 cm long by 2–3 cm in diameter, red to purple when ripe, each containing two seeds in an edible, sweet, white mesocarp.[3]

Distribution and habitat

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The species is found to Borneo. It occurs in mixed hill forest at elevations of up to 1,000 m.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Lepisanthes alata (Blume.) Leenh". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Lepisanthes alata (Blume) Leenh". National Parks Board (NParks). Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Lamb, Anthony (2019). A guide to wild fruits of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu: Natural History Publications (Borneo). p. 248. ISBN 978-983-812-191-0.