Sandoricum venosum (Spreng.) M.Roem.

Sandoricum koetjape is a deciduous, small to large tree, up to 45(-50) m tall. The tree bole is sometimes straight but often crooked or fluted, branchless for up to 18(-21) m and with a trunk diameter up to 100 cm. Buttresses up to 3m high. Bark surface smooth or sometimes flaky or fissured, lenticillate, greyish to pale pinkish-brown, inner bark pale brown or red-brown to pink, exuding a milky latex. The tree is interesting because it branches unusually low to the ground but has a compact crown. Leaves trifoliate arranged spirally, exstipulate; leaflets entire. Flowers in an axillary thyrse, bisexual, 4-5 merous; calyx truncate to shallowly lobed; petals free; staminal tube cylindrical, carrying 10 anthers; disk tubular; ovary superior, 4-5-locular with 2 ovules in each cell, style-head lobed. Fruit a 1-5-locular drupe about the size of a clenched fist; pyrenes 1(-2)-seeded. Seed large, without aril and surrounded by a translucent or pale, acid, edible pulp of good flavour. S. koetjape is a highly variable species and was formerly divided into 2 or 3 species based on the colour of the old leaves, however there appears to be no correlation with other characters and this distinction has been dropped.

Santol is a hermaphroditic tree flowering after 5-7 years (clonally propagated trees may flower after 3-4 years). Pollination is by insects. Flowers annually and in Peninsular Malaysia the flowering period is so reliable in its timing that it was formerly the signal for the planting of rice. New leaves develop rapidly and flowers appear shortly after the development of new shoots. Fruit maturation takes about 5 months. In the Philippines ripe fruits are present from June-October, and in Thailand from May-July. Bats disperse the seeds.

Prefers podzolic soils in both perhumid and seasonal climates.

S. koetjape is found scattered in primary or sometimes secondary rain forest. It also occurs in lowland dipterocarp forest.

S. koetjape is commonly cultivated for its fruit and frequently naturalized in the Asiatic tropics, probably native only to the Malesian region. It is cultivated in the Mascarenes, the New World tropics and under glass in Europe. Timber plantations have been established in Myanmar and also largely cultivated in Sri Lanka.

Can be propagated by seed and vegetative means like budding, grafting, inarching, and marcotting. Seed however, cannot be stored for any length of time.

Seedling growth is fast.

The sapwood is susceptible to Lyctus. The wood is susceptible to marine borer attack and moderately resistant to insect attack.

Seedling exhibiting epigeal germination. Seeds have short viability, and a germination rate of 90-95% in 16-31 days.

Erosion control: The tree is important in soil conservation. Shade or shelter: It gives an excellent shade. Reclamation: The species is hardy and thrives without irrigation in areas with a prolonged dry season. Soil improver: S. koetjape is known to form vesicular arbiscular mycorrhizae. Ornamental: S. koetjape is planted for aesthetic purposes along avenues and in parks. Boundary or barrier or support: Poles from the tree are used for fencing.

Food: The fruit is edible, being eaten fresh or processed into jam or chutney. The fruit is peeled, quartered and cooked in syrup to make delicious preserves. Timber: S. koetjape yields a lightweight to medium-weight hardwood with a density of 290-590 kg/m³ at 15% moisture content. Heartwood is pale red, yellowish-red or yellow-brown with a pink tinge, indistinct or distinguishable from the pale white or pinkish sapwood; grain straight or slightly wavy. Tannin or dyestuff: The bark is used for tanning fishing nets. Poison: The seeds of S. koetjape contain limonoids (antifeedant compounds). Medicine: The pounded leaves are sudorific when applied to the skin and are used to make a decoction against diarrhoea and fever. The powdered bark is an effective treatment for ringworms, and contains triterpenes with anti-cancer activity. The aromatic roots are employed as an anti-diarrhetic, anti-spasmodic, carminative, antiseptic, astringent, stomachic and are prescribed as a general tonic after childbirth. Other products: The fruits are used as fish bait in Sarawak. The fragrant wood is used in perfumery.