Santol Fruit(Sandoricum Koetjape)

$150.00

Santol also referred to as Kechapi, Lolly Fruit, is an ornamental evergreen tree belonging to Mahogany family Meliaceae. Known scientifically as Sandoricum koetjape, the plant goes by several other common names including Kechapi, Lolly Fruit, Santol, Sentol, Wild Mangosteen, Red santol, cotton fruit, sandal, sentul, Sayai and Visayan. The plant is native to Indochina and Peninsular Malaysia, and has been introduced into India, Borneo, Indonesia, Mauritius, the Andaman Islands, and the Philippines where it has become naturalized. It has also been introduced into China, Taiwan, Australia and into a few locations in Central America and Southern Florida. It is usually cultivated in Asian countries and its fruits are abundant in local markets during the season. It is a round, juicy fruit as big as a big apple in sized.

The fruit is a globose-depressed capsule, with prominent or shallow wrinkles extending a short distance from the base, 4.5–7.5 cm across. The thin or thick rind has a wrinkled, softly hairy surface and contains a milky juice. They are initially green turning to yellowish to brownish-golden, sometimes blushed with pink. The white edible, translucent juicy pulp surrounding the seeds (known as arils) may be sour to sweet. The fruit has 3 – 5 brown, ovate to ellipsoid inedible seeds that are 2–3.5 cm long, which are usually tightly clinging or sometimes free from the pulp. It easily reproduces by seed, to be planted within few days, as it has a short lasting germination capability. In this case, we shall have to wait 5-7 years for seeing the first blooming.