MAMOKO
(Glenniea philippinensis)

A portion of mamoko tree

Family: Sapindaceae

Synonyms: Hedyachras philippinensis, Crossonephelis philippinensis

Other names: Malachico

Mamoko is a fruit from South East Asia.  It is not a common plant and has been considered by some as a “rare species”. The fruits are eaten by local people.

            Mamoko grows Sothern Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Philippines.  Its trees are usually found thickets and forests along streams at relatively lower elevations.

Description:

A monoecious tree up to 18 m high, dbh up to 33 cm; hairs mainly solitary.

            Leaves spirally arranged, (l-)4-6-jugate;

Inflorescences thyrsoid, up to c. 20-25 cm long, fulvous-velutinous; sepals 4, valvate to narrowly im bricate, 2-3 by 1.5-2.5 mm, inside tomentose; stamens 6 or 7; ovary obcordate;

Fruits a pear shaped drupe, 6-7 by 4.5-6 cm when dried, yellow when fresh, glabrous, pericarp thick, fleshy, endocarp tough.

 Seeds 2, subovoid, 3-3.5 by 1.75-2.25 cm, testa brown, smooth, glabrous.

A herbarium specimen of mamoko

Utilization:

Mamoko fruits have subacid taste and are also a little astringent.  But still these harvested and eaten by local people.

The wood is suitable for furniture and carving

Cultivation:

As already stated, mamoko is not a very commonly seen plant.  It still grows wild only.  The trees are planted only in botanical gardens as specimen plants.

            New plants can be raised from seed  which germinate readily.