Okari Nut
Terminalia kaernbachii

Family: Combretaceae

What it is like

Terminalia kaernbachii or also known as Okari Nut is a large and deciduous tree, about 30 m high, with a spreading crown. Its bole is straight, cylindrical, and often buttressed. The leaves are large, hairy, yellow green when young and become reddish brown upon maturity. The flowers occur on spikes. A fast-growing tree commonly found in East Asia, it has edible seed which can be eaten raw, roasted, or baked. The seeds contain oil. The red, fleshy, and ellipsoidal fruits are edible as well. Okari nut is of no medicinal importance. The wood is sometimes used for furniture and construction. Plant is grown from seeds.

Terminalia kaernbachii is a deciduous Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 20

Where it is found

Scattered, but sometimes common, in lowland rainforest and riverine forest, at elevations up to 1,000 metres.

E. Asia - Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea to Solomon Islands.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Papua New Guinea; Indonesia; Solomon Islands, Asia, Australia, Hawaii, Indonesia, North America, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, USA,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 5

Seed - raw or cooked. The seed has an excellent, mild, almond-like flavour, it can be eaten raw, roasted or baked. The flavour is improved by roasting it lightly with salt. The palatable kernels are the largest known in this plant family, they can be up to 7 - 8cm long, 3 - 4cm wide, and can weigh from 1.5 - 10g each. The seed contains up to 50% of a sweet, colourless, non-drying oil. It is the source of a vegetable butter. Fruit. The red, fleshy, ellipsoid fruit can be 60 - 175mm long, 40 - 80mm wide and 35 - 60mm thick.

Oil: Oil

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 2

Other Uses: The wood is moderately hard, inclined to be brittle. It is sometimes used for timber in furniture construction, but is seldom logged as it is excluded from timber purchases because of the value of its seed.

Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Protein-oil: (16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Protein-oil: (16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

A plant of the tropical lowlands, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. Plants can be found at elevations up to 1,300 metres, but do not fruit well at these higher elevations. Succeeds in any moderately fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny position. A fast-growing tree when young, able to increase height by up to 2 metres a year. Trees take many years to come into full bearing from seed, even when 20 years old they usually only produce small crops. Seeds are harvested after they fall to the ground. The plant often crops poorly when close to the sea, but can produce good crops when growing inland.

Propagating it: Seed - germinates freely when fresh, but quickly loses its viability.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Talia lavata, Alita fasia, Tatalise, Hogolo, Ghaghimanga, Talise, Manavasa, Naklise, Nyiga,

Synonyms

Terminalia okari C.T.White