Bengal canarium, Square canarium
Canarium bengalense
Family: Burseraceae
What it is like
A large tree which loses its leaves during the year. It grows 10-20 m high and has a trunk 45-55 cm across. The trunk is straight and branches after 10 m height. The bark is grey and not cracked but can split. The young branches are green and wrinkled along their length. The leaves are made up of 8 or 9 pairs of leaflets with one at the end. The leaves are 25-37 cm long and the leaflets are 7-9 cm long by 3-3.5 cm wide. They are dark green on the upper surface and paler underneath. The base of the leaflets is rounded while the tip is pointed. There are 10-11 pairs of veins. The flower clusters occur near the ends of branches. These are 15-17 cm long. The fruit is 3 cm long by 1.5 cm across and triangular in cross section. It is green with the middle layer 2.5-3 mm thick. The seed is hard.
There are 80-95 Canarium species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows on humus rich soils. It occurs below 300 m altitude in Vietnam. It needs plenty of sunlight. It is native of the eastern Himalayan region. In Sikkim it grows below 500 m above sea level. In southern China it grows between 400-1,300 m above sea level. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bangladesh, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The fruit can be eaten. They can be dried.
Edible parts
Fruit, seeds - oil
How it is grown
Trees grow quickly. Plants flower in June and fruit in July to December. In Sikkim fruit are available in January.
Its other names
Local names
Chakronthi, Dhuna, Dhuna rata, Gogul-dhup, Marockpa, Narockpa, Nerebi, Tram ba canh