The Keppel tree, whose botanical name is Stelechocarpus burakol, belongs to the dicotyledonous plants of the Annonov family, its homeland is Java. It took root, being brought into East Asia: Thailand, Indonesia, India, as well as in the northern states of Australia, the countries of Central America and the Florida Peninsula. This representative of the flora is among the thermophilic and lives only in a tropical humid climate. Wood has no industrial use, as the plant is rare and belongs to the category of endangered. The tree was famous for its fruits, whose properties are considered unique in the world.
Description
Keppel is not gigantic in size. Most of the adult trees of this species are medium, about 10–12 m, with a diameter of up to 70 cm. But quite tall specimens are found, reaching 25-meter growth. The bark is rough, bumpy, thick, gray in color with noticeable greenish and brown spots. Trunks branch at a height of 3-5 m. Lateral shoots are thick at the base, with numerous branches. Leaves are lanceolate, elongated, leathery, with pointed tips and a smooth shiny surface, separated by central and thin lateral veins. The dimensions of the sheet plates are about 12–15 cm in length and 6–7 cm in width. Located on the branches again, the leaves hang on thin short cuttings. Among the bright green foliage there are areas painted in pink shades. The crown of the tree is round, wide and dense.
Keppel is an evergreen monoecious plant; one specimen contains both male and female flowers. The first appear in early September on the top of the tree, they are small brushes of 7-15 pieces of small yellowish corollas about 1 cm in size. Female flowers are slightly larger, up to 3 cm, cream, yellow, pink, reddish hues, also collected in groups of 2 –16 pieces. Female inflorescences are located not in the crown, but in the lower part of the tree, on short peduncles growing directly from the surface of the trunks. A similar phenomenon is called caulifloria and is characteristic of many tropical species. Thus, nature protects thin fragile branches from the severity of ripening fruits. Flowers are pollinated by numerous insects, which are attracted by a fragrant bright aroma.
After flying around the petals, fruits are tied; in the first days of April, the keppel trunks are covered with large bunches of edible berries that hang on strong stalks growing in place of flowers. The appearance of trees at this time is so original that it cannot but attract attention. The “bundles” of greenish-gray balls look like balls suspended from trunks. The size of the berries is about 5-8 cm in diameter.
Properties and Application
Outwardly, the fruits of the tree are similar to kiwis: slightly flattened or conical in shape, covered with a rough thin peel of a greenish-brown or grayish color. Inside there is a juicy pulp, divided by partitions into several slices. In unripe fruits, it is light green; as it ripens, it becomes yellow or orange. The pulp segments contain from 4 to 6 dark flattened seeds 1.5 × 3 cm in size. Their volume is almost half the fruit. Seedless varieties of keppel are found. Plants begin to bear fruit when they reach puberty - from 8 years of age. During the season, one tree can yield 1000-1500 pieces of these berries.
Features and useful qualities:
- Sweet fragrant flesh has a taste similar to mango and grape. Some find notes of strawberry and pineapple in it.
- The aroma of the fruit resembles a violet: bright, floral. When the fruit juice comes into contact with any surface or applied to the skin, the smell persists for several hours. These attractive perfumery properties of fruits have been used by people from antiquity. It was believed that after eating them, the fragrance penetrates all biological fluids: even saliva, tears and sweat begin to smell of violets. This was the reason to use the keppel as a natural deodorant. Fruits ate before important business and romantic meetings, which made it possible not to resort to other cosmetics, the aroma of fruits acted better than any perfume. In Java, only the local aristocracy could consume these berries for a long time.
- In addition to perfumery qualities, the juice of Keppel berries has pronounced pharmacological properties. It has a bactericidal and diuretic effect, in women it causes a slight change in the hormonal background, which provides a contraceptive effect.
- The leaves of the tree contain tannins and essential oils that have a cleansing, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect. A decoction of greens is used to treat diseases of the kidneys, joints, and lowering blood cholesterol.
Growing
In greenhouses and greenhouses, keppel can be cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is germinated from seeds, which are placed in a loose nutrient soil and regularly moistened. At an air temperature of about + 27–30 ° С, shoots appear within 10–12 months. It is difficult to achieve fruiting in a temperate climate, it is mainly grown as a decoration.