Hydnocarpus alcalae C.Dc.

Tree, 4-7 m, or shrub; branchlets glabrous. Leaves ovate-oblong, acuminate at the apex, very inequilateral at base, subcoriaceous, firm, shining, olivaceous when dry, glabrous, entire or shallow-crenate, 15-25 by 7-11 cm; midrib little prominent above, markedly raised beneath, lateral nerves prominent beneath, veins transversal, reticulations distinct but little raised; petiole stout, glabrous, c. 1 cm. Stipules not seen. Flowers in pseudo-racemose, glabrous panicles, ♂ in fascicles of 3 or 4, female solitary from the trunk or big branches, each panicle 15-30(-60) cm long, with very distantly arranged, reduced cymes; cymes subsessile to 1-2 mm long, peduncled, bearing 2-4 fascicled flowers on top. Pedicels 1¼-2 cm. ♂ Flowers: sepals ovate, greenish, 1 1¼ by ¾ cm. Petals elliptic, greenish-white or cream, villose at margin, c. 0.8 by 0.6 cm; scales ovate, densely white-pilose specially at the apex, glabrous near the base, fleshy, 5 by 3.5 mm. Filaments c. 10 mm, thickened at the base, glabrous; anthers cordate-oblong, 5 by 3 mm. ♀ Flowers: similar to the ♂ ones, but slightly larger. Pedicels 1.25-4 cm. Sepals 1.25-2 by 1-1½ cm. Petals 1.1-1.2 by 0.8-1 cm. Filaments 7-8 mm; anthers sterile, 2-3 mm. Ovary elliptic, yellowish stellate-velvety; stigmas 5-7, slightly stellate-pubescent. Fruit very large, obovoid, pendent, 15-31 by 8-15(-20) cm, dark-brown with purple and greenish spots, somewhat rugose, reticulate by numerous fissures when dry. Seeds 80-110, subglobular-ellipsoid, 3-5 by 2½-3 cm, polyedric, with a light-yellow aril, embedded in a fragrant, adstringent pulp.

Moist ravines at low elevations.

Uses. This species possesses the largest fruits known in the genus. The oil extracted from the seeds yields chaulmoogric and hydnocarpic acid and is used by the Filipinos as a good cure for wounds.

Plants are grown from seed.