Crown of the gods

A low-maintenance plant with dainty little flowers, the Mahkota Dewa is also coveted for its medicinal properties, writes Elaine Yim

I’VE come across the Mahkota Dewa plant quite frequently at flower shows and exhibitions. It seems many people are aware of its medicinal properties. It’s usually sold as a health remedy in dried and processed form. Sometimes, these traditional health product entrepreneurs will sell the seedlings as well.

It was out of curiosity a few years ago that I decided to buy one to grow as an ornamental in my home garden.

The Mahkota Dewa plant, I eventually discover, is a very easy and interesting plant to grow, requiring minimal care and maintenance.

The little flowers are pretty and the fruits look like little cherries hanging on the tree. That said, be careful as the fruits are in fact toxic when eaten raw.

PLANT PROFILE:

Scientific name: Phaleria macrocarpa Synonyms: Phaleria papuana, Phaleria fructus

Family: Thymelaeaceae (agarwood family)

Common name: Mahkota Dewa (Malay), God’s Crown, Pau

Thymelaeaceae is a family of about 900 species of plants divided into 50 genera. Its members include the agarwood or gaharu trees of genus Aquilaria and Gyrinops. These trees are native to Southeast Asia and their resin-embedded wood is highly valued by the perfume and incense-making industry.

The genus name Phaleria is derived from the Greek word meaning shining white in reference to the colour of the flowers.

The specific epithet macrocarpa is derived from two Greek words meaning large, and meaning fruit. Dried shredded pieces of mahkota dewa can be made into tea or a herbal drink.

The fruits turn from green to red as they ripen. THE PLANT

Phaleria macrocarpa is a medium-sized evergreen tree with a dense crown and many branches. It can reach a normal height of 6m and up to 18m in the wild. Its productive life span is 10 to 20 years. It’s indigenous to Indonesia and tropical Papua New Guinea.

The green leaves are lance-shaped, long and tapering. Each leaf measures about 8cm long and 4cm wide. The bark is greenish-brown with sap and white wood inside. It has a tap root system.

The white and scented flowers are small in size, trumpet-shaped and radially symmetrical. Arranged in clusters of two to four flowers spread along the branches of the tree, flowering occurs the whole year round.

The fruit is rounded and grooved, measuring about 3 to 5cm across. The skin is smooth. They start green and ripen to cherry red. Each fruit contains a white fibrous pulp with one or two hard seeds and can be found hanging along the branches and trunk of the tree. The seeds, which are brown on the outside and white inside, are the most poisonous parts of the plant. USAGE

This medicinal plant has been used for centuries in Indonesia, Malaysia and India as a traditional remedy for chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer and diseases related to lung, liver, bladder, heart and blood.

It’s believed to have anti-tumour, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.

The fruits cannot be eaten raw as it contains saponin and alkaloids. Fresh fruits are toxic and may cause convulsions, dizziness and unconsciousness. The fruits must be processed properly before consumption.

During processing, the fruits are thoroughly washed and cut into halves with the pits removed before being thinly sliced, sundried and stored. Mahkota Dewa is sold as dried slices or in powder form and is consumed as herbal tea.

Always consult a qualified practitioner on

the recommended dosage and frequency. Pregnant women shouldn’t consume the Mahkota Dewa in any form.

HOW TO GROW

When planted in the ground, it can grow into a large tree. In a container, it’ll grow to about 1-3m. You can start with a seedling purchased from a local nursery specialising in medicinal plants.

THE STEPS:

1. PROPAGATION. Seeds and grafting. 2. SUNLIGHT. Full sun.

3. MEDIUM. Fertile loam.

4. WATER. Regular watering. 5. FERTILISE. Balanced organic fertiliser

once a fortnight

6. MAINTENANCE. Trim regularly to a

manageable height.

7. PEST AND DISEASES. Not a problem.