Common Name:

General Information

Elaeocarpus lanceifolius is an evergreen tree, usually growing up to 20 metres tall with some specimens up to 30 metres recorded[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and timber.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - southern China, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

Found at elevations up to 2,400 metres in the Himalayas. Open places; at elevations from 1,000 - 1,800 metres in Nepal[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Many members of this genus succeed outdoors in nearly frost-free areas of the temperate zone if they are given a sheltered position such as a wall facing towards the midday or mid-afternoon sun[].
Succeeds in full sun to partial shade. Prefers a moist, fertile humus-rich well-drained soil[].

Edible Uses

Fruit[, ]. The fully ripe fruit is edible[]. The dull reddish, ovoid fruit is 2 - 4cm long[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Wood - soft. Used in construction, tea boxes etc[].
The wood is used to make charcoal[].
We have no more information on the specific properties of the wood of this species, however the following is a general description of the wood from this genus:-
The heartwood is light-yellowish white to pink-brown, it is not distinctly demarcated from the sapwood. The texture is moderately fine and even, with straight to shallowly interlocked grain. The wood is soft to moderately hard; light in weight to moderately heavy; weak; not very durable. It seasons fairly slowly with slight end and surface checking; shrinkage is fairly low. It is easy to resaw and cross-cut; planing is easy and leaves a moderately smooth finish; nailing properties are good. A general purpose wood, it is suitable for purposes such as general planking, shuttering, boxes, crates, wooden pallets, match splints, veneer and plywood[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[]. The seed of most species in this genus is covered by a hard, woody shell and can be very slow and erratic to germinate, sometimes taking 2 years or more. Filing down the shell, or cracking it (being very careful not to damage the seed) in order to allow the ingress of moisture can help to greatly speed up germination. Sow the seed in containers in light shade. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on until large enough to plant out,
Cuttings of almost ripe shoots, in a sandy soil in a frame. The leaves should be left on the stem.[, ]. Many species strike readily from cuttings.