Malay Lac Fruit Tree Plant (Schleichera oleosa)

Schleichera oleosa -

Common Names: Malay Lac Tree, Ceylon Oak, Kusum, Lac Tree, Ma, Macassar oil tree.

Botanical Name: Schleichera oleosa

General Information:

Family: Sapindaceae

Size: Medium to large-sized deciduous tree.

Distribution: East Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Features: Attractive red-colored new growth.

Uses: Multipurpose tree supplying food, medicine, and commodities.

Cultivation: Occasionally cultivated throughout the tropics, especially in India.

Uses:

Young leaves and fruits are edible.

Ripe fruit is eaten raw with a pleasantly acidic flavor.

Unripe fruits are used for pickling.

Oil extracted from the seed, known as 'kusum oil,' is used in hairdressing and lighting.

A valuable component of true Macassar oil.

Used in the batik industry.

Medicinal Uses:

The oil obtained from the seed is applied externally to cure itching, acne, and other skin afflictions.

Massaging the oil into the scalp is believed to promote hair growth in cases of baldness.

Cultivation Information:

Bloom Time/Fruiting: 2 to 3 Years

Maintenance Required: Moderate