Elephant Apple (Dillenia indica), a large, acidic fruit from the Dilleniaceae family, is often overlooked despite its culinary, medicinal, and ecological value. Named for its knobby, oblong shape that resembles an elephant’s toe, the fruit is also a major food source for wild elephants. In India, it is known by various regional names such as Chalta in Hindi and Bengali, O-tenga in Assamese, and Ramphal in Nepali. The fruit has a gelatinous, sour-smelling pulp encased in a thick, yellowish husk. While it can be eaten raw, it is more commonly used in pickles, jams, jellies, and curries, especially in Eastern India.
Distribution and Native Habitat
Elephant Apple is native to Southeast Asia, extending to tropical parts of Australia. In India, it is naturally found in the moist, evergreen forests of the sub-Himalayan region—ranging from Kumaon and Garhwal to Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. The plant thrives in humid climates and is typically seen growing near riverbanks or in forest undergrowth.
Botanical Importance of Elephant Apple
This species is an evergreen shrub or a semi-deciduous tree, growing up to 15 meters in height. The leaves are large, dark green, sharply serrated, and corrugated, often forming dense clusters at branch tips. During the flowering season from June to July, the tree produces large, aromatic, magnolia-like white flowers that measure 15–20 cm in diameter. These are borne singly or in clusters at the terminal ends of new shoots.
Nutritional Value and Medicinal Benefits
Elephant Apple is a nutritionally rich fruit, containing high moisture, carbohydrates, fiber, and essential minerals like calcium and phosphorus. The sepals are especially rich in vitamin C, tannins, malic acid, and polysaccharides such as arabinogalactan. Methanolic extracts of the fruit have been found to possess high phenolic content, making them potent antioxidants.
The seeds are a reservoir of bioactive compounds such as fixed oils, saponins, proteins, sterols, glycosides, and tannins. Similarly, the stem and bark contain flavonoid glycosides, terpenoids, and phenolic acids, all contributing to the plant's pharmacological potential.
Traditional medicinal systems including Ayurveda, Unani, homeopathy, and local folk medicine extensively use the fruit to treat a variety of conditions—ranging from abdominal pain and constipation to skin disorders and inflammation. Recent studies have also indicated anti-leukemic activity of this crop in human cancer cell lines.
Climate and Soil Requirements
Elephant Apple thrives in warm tropical climates with annual temperatures ranging from 24°C to 35°C and an average rainfall of 2000 mm. It prefers low-lying, humid areas, particularly along riverbanks, and grows well up to altitudes of 1100 meters. The plant requires moist, well-drained soils with a pH range of 5.5 to 7.0. While it grows well in full sunlight, it can also tolerate partial shade. However, it is highly sensitive to frost.
Propagation Techniques
The plant is primarily propagated through seeds and cuttings, although air layering and in vitro shoot multiplication have also been practiced with success. Since the seeds are recalcitrant and lose viability quickly, they should be sown soon after extraction from ripe fruits. Germination typically takes around 30 days under favorable conditions. Hardwood cuttings treated with IBA (Indole-3-butyric acid) at concentrations of 250–2000 ppm show improved rooting success and survival rates.
Air layering is most successful during the monsoon months of July and August, particularly in hot and humid conditions. In vitro propagation has also been developed for conservation and commercial purposes, ensuring uniform quality and faster multiplication.
Cultivation practice and manuring
The optimal time for planting Elephant Apple is during the monsoon months of June and July. Seedlings that are at least 7 to 8 months old are suitable for transplanting. A spacing of 7–8 meters between plants is recommended to accommodate the tree’s wide canopy.
Although naturally hardy, Elephant Apple responds well to organic manuring. Each pit should be enriched with 25 kg of farmyard manure (FYM) and 2 kg of wood ash at planting. Mature trees benefit from an annual application of 20 kg FYM at the start of the monsoon for sustained growth and productivity. While regular pruning is not required, periodic removal of dead or diseased branches enhances plant health. Intercropping with turmeric, ginger, or other tubers is feasible in the initial years, utilizing the space between young plants for additional income.
Harvesting and Yield
The fruiting season begins in September and can extend up to February. The fruit takes around 160 days to mature from the time of fruit set, turning from green to straw yellow with a slight greenish tinge when ripe. Since Elephant Apple is a non-climacteric fruit, it must be harvested when fully mature.
Seed-propagated trees typically begin bearing fruit after 8 to 10 years. Under optimal conditions, a mature tree can yield up to 1000 fruits annually, with an average fruit weight of 300 grams. Proper care and organic inputs can significantly boost yield and quality.
Post-Harvest Management and Storage
Harvested fruits should be stored at low temperatures, around 4.5°C, where they can last up to a month. As the fruit does not ripen after harvesting, timing is crucial to avoid post-harvest losses. Elephant Apple is commonly processed into pickles, especially in Assam and West Bengal, where elephant apple pickle is a household delicacy. It is also gaining popularity in the preparation of juices, jams, and culinary pastes.
Elephant Apple is a highly versatile yet underutilized fruit with vast potential in sustainable agriculture, nutritional security, and traditional medicine. Its ability to thrive in varied ecological conditions, coupled with high nutritional and pharmacological value, makes it a promising candidate for diversification in agroforestry systems. With increased awareness, scientific cultivation, and value addition, Elephant Apple could emerge as an important cash crop for farmers in tropical regions, contributing to both income generation and ecological conservation.
