Sentol is a tall evergreen tree, reaching heights of up to 50 m. The trunk is greyish and smooth when young, but grows flaky or fissured as the tree ages.
The young branches are covered with short brown hairs.
The tree has alternate, long-stalked compound leaves that are spirally arranged. Each leaf consists of three leaflets that are oblong-ovate with pointed tips and rounded bases. The leaf margins are either entire or wavy. The leaflets have prominent sunken veins, giving them an uneven texture. The upper side of the leaflets is glabrous while the lower side is pale and densely covered in short, soft brown hairs. The dark green leaves turn yellow or bright red before falling.
Sentol produces small, fragrant, bisexual flowers in axillary panicles. The flowers can be pinkish yellow, yellowish green, or white-yellow, and they have five free petals.
The tree bears fleshy fruits, also known as cotton fruit. These are round or flattened ball-shaped, with a diameter of 5 to 8 centimeters. The fruits mature to yellow or brownish, and their rind has a softly hairy surface. The whitish pulp inside is translucent and segmented. Each fruit contains 3 to 5 brown, ovate to ellipsoid seeds that are usually tightly associated with the pulp.
The fruit pulp is consumed raw or used to make marmalade, candy, and fermented beverages. Various parts of the tree are also used in folk medicine. For example, leaf decoctions are used to treat diarrhea and fever, bark poultices are applied to ringworm, and roots mixed with vinegar and water are used for diarrhea and dysentery. The stem of the tree contains anti-inflammatory compounds.
Traditionally, there are two forms of Sandoricum koetjape: Sentol and Kechapi. Sentol bears sweet fruits with thin skins, while Kechapi produces sour fruits with thicker skins. Over time, these two forms came to be referred to as Yellow and Red Sentols, respectively, based on the colors of their withering leaves. The Yellow Sentol has a hairless leaflet base, pinkish-yellow petals that strongly curve, and is naturally found in forests. In contrast, the Red Sentol has a velvety leaflet base, green petals that strongly curve, and is known for its sour fruits.
Source:
Picture credits: http://www.plantsofasia.com/index/sandoricum/0-840
Reference
Plants of Singapore