Facts Of Kumbalmadu Fruit
kubalmadu is scientifically called as “ Willughbeia sarawacensis ”.
ORIGIN OF KUBALMADU
Willughbeia sarawacensis, is a large tropical vine-bearing plant with edible fruit native to Borneo and to the nearby Island of Palawan in the Philippines.
The genus Willughbeia and the Family: Apocynaceae
OTHER NAMES OF KUBALMADU
kubalmadu or kubal madu (Malaysia) and tabo (Philippines), Pitabu, Kubal Madu, Serapit, (Sabah/Sarawak), Tampirik (Kalimantan).
APPEARANCE OF KUBALMADU
kubalmadu Fruit is a globose, fleshy berry, golden yellow to orangey-yellow.
Seeds are smooth, ovoid having thin endosperm and thick horny cotyledons, and embedded in mucilaginous orange-yellow pulp.
The fruit is the shape, size, and colour of a grapefruit with a thin melon-like rind and a concentrated sweet taste comparable to mango, soursop and pineapple combined.
TASTES OF KUBALMADU
This fruit tastes sour to sweet, subacid to sweet or bland without any aroma ,
Very unique and very diverse flavour.
VARIETIES OF KUBALMADU
There are four related varieties known in Borneo: kubal asam or kubal taya, kubal tusu or kubal madu, kubal arang (all fall under Willughbeia sarawakensis), and another much bigger cousin tabau (Willughbeia elimeri).All four are round shape except kubal tusu, which is a pear shape.
ABOUT KUBALMADU TREE
• Kubalmadu is a vigorous climbing shrub which produces woody stems upto 60 meters long. Kubalmadu Stems climb to the top of the trees in forests.
• Kubalmadu Woody shoots attach to other plants by hooked, leafless branchlets.
• Kubalmadu is a perennial, having branches bearing tendrils from modified inflorescences. Flowers are yellowish-white, pentamerous and actinomorphic.
FACTS OF KUBALMADU
• The pulp of ripe Kubalmadu fruit is consumed raw.
• Good for making juice from ripe Kubalmadu fruit.
Kubalmadu treats sores :
• The latex is used as a plaster for sores and as a treatment for yaws.
Kubalmadu treats Stomach disorder:
• The stems of the Kubalmadu plant are used to treat yaws, dysentery, and liver discomfort.
• The roots of Kubalmadu are used internally to treat jaundice, heartburn, and diarrhoea.