Commersonia bartramia (L.) Merr.

Durian tupai (Commersonia bartramia) is a tree up to 15 meters tall of the Malvaceae family, distributed from Southeast Asia to Papua New Guinea and Australia. Aboriginal communities use its fiber as binding rope, while in Sumatra it is used to make traditional mats. Traditionally, durian tupai is also believed to help prevent cancer and lower cholesterol levels.

This tree is mainly found in secondary forests, open areas, cliffs or forest edges. This plant prefers regions with a weak dry season, in places with plenty of sunlight or a little shade. Grows up to elevations of 1,300 m above sea level with average rainfall of 3,000 mm/year.

• Stem cylindrical, twigs have many lenticels (fine hairs) white in color.
• Leaves single, stalked, finely hairy, leaf blade round, egg-shaped.
• Flowers umbrella-shaped panicle at leaf axils, beside or opposite the leaf, 3-21 cm long.
• Fruit a ball-shaped capsule, woody with long, dense hair bristles.
• Seeds oblong (elliptical) shape, brownish-black, glossy.

Plant propagation is done generatively (using seed) as well as vegetatively (air-layering).

Flavonoids (kaempferol, chalcone, apigenin 5-0-glucoside), saponins, coumarin (scoparone, 6,8 dimethoxycoumarin).

Prevents cancer, lowers cholesterol levels in the body, treats high blood pressure, internal heat, malaria, has antioxidant activity.

Information not yet available.

Andilo (North Sumatra), Harlupang, Endilaw udang (Palembang), Mentenuk, Senar, Teling, Telinting (Bangka), Blencong (Java), Kalababa (Ternate), Lisau (Tidore), Marong, Morong merah, Hunut (Ambon).