Gen info
- Xylocarpus is a genus of plants in the mahogany family Meliaceae, which contains 3 described species—Xylocarpus rumphii, X. granatum, X. moluccensis—all of which are mangroves. It is the only mangrove genus in Meliaceae. (2)
- The genus was erected by botanist Johann Gerhard König to accommodate his newly described species X. granatum.
- Etymology: The genus name Xylocarpus derives from Greek words xylon, meaning "wood", and carpon, meaning "fruit", referring to the large wood fruit. The size and shape of the fruit has given rise to the common name "cannonball mangrove".
(2)  Specific epithet rumphii is named after German-born botanist Eberhard Rumphius. (3)
- Note: In a floristic survey of the three Xylocarpus species in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, Xylocarpus granatum and X. moluccensis were considered true mangrove species, and Xylocarpus rumphii a non-mangrove species. (4)

Botany
• Growth form: A medium sized tree, height range 4 - 12 m, approx. 18 at maturity. Trunk: Trunk can be up to 50 cm in diameter. Bark finely fissured, grayish, inner bark bright pink to red.  Roots: No conspicuous buttresses and pneumatophores. Foliage: Leaf stalk up to 22 cm, leaflets in 2 - 4 pairs, 5 - 10 by 3 - 5 cm, ovate to heart-shaped with pointed tip, venation prominent on both sides, leaflet stalk 1 - 3 mm. Flowers: Flower clusters 10 - 18 cm long, lax and hanging. Calyx 4 lobes 1 - 1.5 mm long, 4 petals 3.5 - 6 by 2 - 2.5 mm, elliptic-oblong, creamy white. Fruit: Fruits 6 - 8 cm in diameter and round in shape. (Flora & Fauna Web)

• Note: Malapiagau (Xylocarpus rumphii) could be confused with X.granatum and X. mollucensis, differing in its smaller cannonball-like fruit and absence of root buttresses and aerial roots.

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- Also native to Andaman Is., Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Cambodia, Fiji, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Madagascar, Malaya, Maluku, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Solomon Is., Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam. (1)

Constituents
- Study of heartwood of X. rumphii isolated 11 compounds identified as xylorumphins A and C (1,2), xylorymphiin C (3), xylorumpholides A-G (4-10) and odoratone (11). From the bark,  compounds were isolated, identified as xylorumphin B (12), xyloccensin E (13), taraxer-14-en-3ß-ol (14), 22ε-hydroxy-tirucalla-7,24-dien-3,23-dione (15), and 3-oxo-(20S,24S)-epoxydammaran-25-ol (16). (6)

Properties
- Studies have suggested antioxidant properties.

Parts used
- Seeds.

Uses
Edibility
- Seeds and leaves are edible.
Folkloric
- Kernel of seeds used to treat stomach aches. (3)
- In Sri Lanka, seeds used to prepare the Ayurvedic medicine "Gopaluguliya" for treatment of food poisoning, snakebites, and alcohol poisoning. (•) Soft leaves are chewed and swallowed, believed to promote general well-being and body strength. Boiled leaves, cooled and washed, used as wash to cure strong coughs. (7)
- In Malaysia, roots used for treatment of cholera and dysentery.
Others
- Bark: Used for tanning and dying cloth. (3)
- Crafts and construction: Patterned wood used for making traditional knife handles.  Wood also used in boat building. (3)

Studies
• Antioxidant: Study of X. rumphii for antioxidant activity showed EC50s (ug/ml) of 3.67, 114.00, 3.67, and 38.67 for rind, seeds, branches and leaves, respectively. Study for lipid peroxidation inhibition showed IC50s of 1.250, 38.875, 1.700, and 1.725 µg/mL, respectively. (5)
• Antioxidant / Radical Scavenging Activity / Leaves: Study evaluated the antioxidant activity of methanol extract of X. rumphii leaves using DPPH assay with concentrations of 62.5, 125, and 62.5 µg/ml. Highest DPPH scavenging activity was recorded as 73.995% at concentration of 62.5%. Study suggests potential natural source of antioxidants. (7)

Availability
- Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Xylocarpus rumphii / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(2)
Xylocarpus / Wikipedia
(3)
Xylocarpus rumphii / National Parks: FLORA & FAUNA WEB
(4)
Taxonomy and distribution of little known species of the genus Xylocarpus (Meliaceae) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India / P Ragavan, Alok Saxena, RSC Jayaraj et al / Botanica Marina, 2015; 58(5): pp 415-422 / DOI: 10.1515/'bot-2015-0002
(5)
Pharmacological studies of plants in the mangrove forest / Nuntavan Bunyapraphatsara, Aranya Jutiviboonsuk, Prapinsara Sornlek et al / Thai Journal of Phytopharmacy, 2003; 10(2)
(6)
Chemical constituents from Xylocarpus rumphii (Meliaceae) / L Ezra, W Waratchareeyakul, K Chantrapromma, S Chantrapromma, MK Langat, SL Schwikkard, DA Mulholland / Planta Med, 2015; 81-PM–133 / DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565510
(7)
Antioxidant potential of methanolic leaf extract from Xylocarpus rumphii, a critically endangered halophytes species of Sri Lanka / Rosamalee Yashodha Subasingha, thilina Lakshan Mendis, VA Wickramasinghe, HP Sajeewanie Jayapala / Conference: !st International Symposium I for Ocean Research, 2024

DOI: It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)