Beauty leaf, Beach Calophyllum
Calophyllum inophyllum

Family: Clusiaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It grows up to 20 m tall. The branches spread out. The bark is light yellow-grey and smooth. The leaves are opposite and leathery. They are glossy green. The leaves are oval and 10-15 cm long by 4-6 cm wide. They have many fine side veins which come out at right angles to the midrib. The flowering structure is unbranched and they are in the axils of leaves. The flowers are white and have both sexes. They are 2-2.5 cm across. The fruit is round, ending in a point. It is 2.5 cm across and yellowish. It has a woody layer around the seed.

There are about 187-200 Calophyllum species. They are evergreen trees of the tropics. The seed oil is fragrant and sometimes burnt in lamps. It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is native to tropical Asia and the Pacific. It often grows near water and near the sea shore. It can tolerate salt spray. It can be near mangroves. It needs sandy well drained soil. It grows wild or cultivated on open waste sites on hills, seashores, sandy wastelands; 100(-200) m altitude in China. It grows up to 400 m above sea level in Fiji. It grows in places with an annual average temperature of 18-33°C. It is damaged by drought and frost. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Andamans, Aruba, Asia, Australia, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Cambodia, Caroline Islands, China, Chuuk, Cook Islands, Djibouti, East Africa, East Timor, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, French Polynesia, FSM, Ghana, Guam, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan (Ryukyu Is.), Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Mascarenes, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Nigeria, Niue, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Polynesia, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna, West Africa, Yap, Zambia

How it is used for food

The oil is edible after refining and removing toxic components. The ripe fruit and seeds are eaten. The unripe fruit are pickled. Caution: The seed, sap and leaves are poisonous.

It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea. It is only a very minor or incidental food. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, caution, seeds - oil, seeds

How it is grown

They are grown from seed which must be sown fresh. Seeds germinate easily but slowly. Seedlings can be transplanted into the field after 5-6 months.

Young seedlings grow rapidly. The tree grows slowly. The seeds yield oil to 20--30%, but seed kernels to 50-60%.

Its other names

Local names

Ai-sampulo, Alexandrian Laurel, Anganaro, Bagura, Barura, Beach kalofilum, Bentangor bunga, Bitu, Btaches, Fetau, Foraha, Forahabe, Funa, Hefau, Hong hou ke, Honne, Hpang, Isho, Itakamaka, Jijo, Kamani, Kating, Khchoeng, Lukwej, Mutondo, Nagachampa, Nyamplung, Penaga laut, Pinnay, Pohon bintangur, Pohon nyamplung, Pon-hyet, Poon, Poonang, Poonay-oil plant, Pouna, Pua, Pudek, Punaga, Punna, Punnaga, Punnai, Sultanachampa, Surangi, Takamaka, Taruwuka, Te itai, Tilo, Toor asa taukava, Undi, Voakoly, Voakotry, Voalavenona, Vuma

Synonyms

Balsamaria inophyllum (Linnaeus) Loureillo; and others