Petroleum nut
Pittosporum resiniferum

Family: Pittosporaceae

What it is like

Sometimes misspelt as Pittosporum resinosum

Pittosporum resiniferum is an evergreen Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a medium 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): 25

Where it is found

Not very abundant in any part of the Philippines, but it is widely distributed and usually found on high mountain ridges. Found in mossy forests at elevations from 600 - 2,400 metres. Found among other trees like oak and other mossy forest species. It can also grow well with pine trees.

Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Philippines.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Grows in the Philippines and Malaysia, particularly in the wilderness surrounding the Mayon Volcano and in the Cordillera of the Philippines and Mount Kinabalu of Sabah, Malaysia.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 3

Herbalists in the Philippines use the petroleum nut as a universal medicine. An infusion of the fruit is used as a remedy for intestinal and stomach pains. An oleoresin obtained from the fruit is used externally as a cure for leprosy and other skin diseases; also to bring relief from muscular pains and skin diseases. A decoction of the nuts is used in the treatment of colds. The crushed nuts, combined with coconut oil, are used to bring relief from myalgia. A decoction of the leaves is taken in the treatment of coughs. The sap is used to treat ringworm.

Leprosy: Used to treat leprosy - a chronic bacterial infection of the skin and superficial nerves (in the skin) caused by Mycobacterium leprae.

Other

Rating: 4

An oil obtained from the fruit contains a dihydroterpene and also considerable quantities of normal heptane, which had only once before been found in nature, occurring in the digger pine (Pinus sabiniana) of California. The oil can also be distilled into a very pure form of n-Heptane. Dihydroterpene is used in perfumes and medicines, whilst heptane is a component of gasoline, and has been suggested as a possible component of paint and varnish. The oil is quite sticky, and in a thin layer rapidly becomes resinous. In an open dish it burns strongly, with a sooty flame. It distils unchanged up to 165°, then with decomposition to give a resin oil. The oil distilling from100° to 165° is colourless, with an orange-like odour. The essential oil is 8 - 10% of the total fruit weight and comprises 40% myrcene, 38% a-pinene, n-heptane and n-nonane are minor components. The fruits, even green ones, burn brilliantly when ignited. Hence they are used like torch nuts or candlenuts for illumination in the bush. The fruits are about 3cm long, borne in clusters on the stems. The oil comes from the fruit, not the seed. The nut has a carbon rating of 54, much higher than Jatropha curcas which has 41. Carbon farming - Industrial Crop: hydrocarbon.

Experimental Crop: Plant breeders are testing these plants to see if they could be domesticated for cultivation, but they are still in an experimental phase. Examples include milkweed and leafy spurge.

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.

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

Experimental Crop: Plant breeders are testing these plants to see if they could be domesticated for cultivation, but they are still in an experimental phase. Examples include milkweed and leafy spurge.

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.

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

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

How it is grown

A plant of moderate to high elevations in the moist to wet tropics, where it can be found at elevations from 600 - 2,400 metres. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature is within the range 18 - 28°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 5,000mm. Prefers a well-drained soil. The tree can commence fruiting when 6 - 12 metres tall. Tree can commence bearing fruit within five years from seed. One tree yields an average 250 - 300 kilos of fruit per year. One litre of high flammable oil can be obtained from 15 kilos of fresh fruits. There are considerable differences in the proportion of heptane and dihydroterpene found in the oil; the season and degree of ripeness of the fruits undoubtedly playing a considerable role in this respect. All parts of the tree are distinctly resiniferous and have the same pleasant, orange-like odour as the fruits. The flowers are fragrant. Climate: tropical highlands. Humidity: humid. Cultivation: experimental. Management: standard.

Propagating it: Seed - The seed probably has a very short viability of less than 1 month. Cuttings.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

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

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Pittosporum resiniferum, the resin cheesewood or petroleum nut. In the Philippine Cordilleras petroleum nut is locally known as apisang, abkel, abkol and da-il.

Synonyms

This name is unresolved. Pittosporum resinosum (misspelt)