Langsat, Lansa, Lanzon

Lansium domesticum

Physical Characteristics

Lansium domesticum is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 12 m (39ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

E. Asia - Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked[301 ]. Juicy, aromatic and subacid[301 ]. As well as being eaten out of hand, they can be candied, preserves in syrup etc[301 ]. The fruits are borne in clusters of 2 - 30 and are about 37mm in diameter[303 ]. Each fruit contains 5 or 6 segments of aromatic, white, translucent, juicy flesh, with 1 - 3 relatively large and very bitter seeds in each fruit[303 ]. These seeds can sometimes cling very tightly to the flesh and can then impart their bitterness to the fruit[303 ]. The peel of the langsat is easily removed and the flesh is commonly eaten out-of-hand or served as dessert, and may be cooked in various ways[303 ]. Varieties with much latex are best dipped into boiling water to eliminate the gumminess before peeling[303 ]. The peeled, seedless or seeded fruits are canned in syrup or sometimes candied[303 ].

Medicinal Uses

Antidiarrhoeal Astringent Dysentery Febrifuge Malaria Ophthalmic Stings Vermifuge The resin is non-toxic and administered to halt diarrhoea and intestinal spasms[303 ]. The pulverized seed is employed as a febrifuge and vermifuge[303 ]. The bark is poulticed on scorpion stings[303 ]. An astringent bark decoction is taken as a treatment for dysentery and malaria[303 ]. Leaves may be combined with the bark in preparing the decoction[303 ]. The leaf juice is used as eye-drops to dispel inflammation[303 ].

Known Hazards

An arrow poison is made from the fruit peel and the bark of the tree. Both possess a toxic property, lansium acid, which, on injection, arrests heartbeat in frogs. The seed contains a minute amount of an unnamed alkaloid and two bitter, toxic principles[303 ]. (Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested)