Anacolosa frutescens, also known as galo[3] or galonut,[4] is a plant in the family Olacaceae. The specific epithet frutescens is from the Latin frutex meaning 'shrub'.[5] It produces edible fruits and nuts eaten in the Philippines.[3][6]

Anacolosa frutescens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Santalales
Family: Olacaceae
Genus: Anacolosa
Species:
A. frutescens
Binomial name
Anacolosa frutescens
(Blume) Blume[2]
Synonyms[2]
  • Anacolosa arborea Koord. & Valeton
  • Anacolosa celebica Valeton ex Koord.
  • Anacolosa heptandra Maingay ex Mast.
  • Anacolosa luzoniensis Merr.
  • Anacolosa puberula Kurz
  • Anacolosa puberula var. andamanica Kurz
  • Anacolosa zollingeri Baill.
  • Stemonurus frutescens Blume

Description

edit

Anacolosa frutescens grows as a shrub or small tree up to 30 metres (100 ft) tall with a diameter of up to 30 centimetres (12 in). The greenish grey bark is smooth to mottled. The obovoid to oblong fruits are green, ripening to yellow or orange, and measure up to 1.2 cm (0.5 in) long. The wood is sometimes locally used for house posts.[5]

Distribution and habitat

edit

Anacolosa frutescens is native to Southeast Asia, from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Myanmar through Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Its habitat is mixed dipterocarp forests, sometimes heath and peat swamp forests, occasionally submontane forests, from sea-level to 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) altitude.[5]

Uses

edit

The fruit and seeds of galo (also known as aluloy) is eaten in the Philippines. The fruit is usually boiled before consumption and has a taste similar to avocado. The seeds have a flavor described as being similar to a mixture of sweet corn and chestnuts.[6][3]

References

edit
  1. ^ Oldfield, S. (2020). "Anacolosa frutescens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T149652829A149822241. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T149652829A149822241.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Anacolosa frutescens (Blume) Blume". The Plant List. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Fern, Ken. "Anacolosa frutescens". Tropical Plants Database. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Anacolosa frutescens". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  5. ^ a b c Tipot, Lesmy (1995). "Anacolosa frutescens (Blume) Blume". In Soepadmo, E.; Wong, K. M. (eds.). Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak. (free online from the publisher, lesser resolution scan PDF versions). Vol. 1. Forest Research Institute Malaysia. pp. 272, 274–275. ISBN 983-9592-34-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  6. ^ a b Philippines: Country Report to the FAO International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources (Leipzig, 1996) (PDF). Department of Agriculture, Republic of the Philippines. 1995.