Endospermum peltatum
Endospermum peltatum
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
A tree of the humid tropics, found at elevations up to 1,000 metres[1]. The plant is found on sandy, sandstone, loam soil on limestone, silty clay loam, alluvium and periodically inundated soils in the wild[2]. Natural regeneration is abundant 2 - 3 months after logging along with other secondary species. Approximately 35% of the seedlings survive after 6 months[1]. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.
Propagation
Seed - the fruits are soaked in water for 24 hours and then macerated to separate the seeds[1]. These are sun dried for 2 - 3 days. Before sowing, the seeds are soaked in water overnight. The seeds are broadcast in raised seed-beds[1]. The highest germination rate (80%) was obtained when using a 1 : 3 mixture of sand and organic topsoil[1]. After sowing, the seeds are covered with about 2 cm of soil, and the seed-bed is mulched with dry grass, and subsequently watered[1]. Usually the seeds start to germinate after about 24 days[1]. Seedlings are potted when they have 2 - 4 leaves (about 20 days after germination) in a sterilized mixture of 50% organic topsoil and 50% sandy loam[1]. Only vigorous seedlings of 20 - 30 cm tall should be planted into the field[1] The seeds can be stored in polyethylene bags at a temperature of 15.5°c[1]. If stored for more than one month, the seeds become dormant and can only be used for sowing in the next season[1]. Seeds buried 30 cm deep retain their viability for more than 9 months[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Endospermum+peltatum>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
- [2]Euphorbiaceae of Malesia — http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/euphorbs/ ↩︎An online resource that is still being developed, it gives detailed botanical descriptions of plants in the family Euphorbiaceae found growing in Malesia (the region from Peninsual Malaysia through Indonesia, the Philippines).
- [3]Tropix 7 — CIRAD · http://tropix.cirad.fr/en ↩︎An on-line guide to the timbers of 245 species of trees.