Black damar
Canarium strictum

Family: Burseraceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows 40 m tall. It has buttresses. The bark is hard and has a metallic sound when hit. The bark peels off in rectangle shaped flakes. The tree crown is dense and umbrella shaped. The young leaves are bright red with rusty hairs. The mature leaves are 30-60 cm long and 5-9 cm wide. They have 3-7 pairs of leaflets and one leaflet at the end. The flowers are in clusters 20-30 cm long. The flowers are brownish yellow. The fruit are hard and egg shaped. They are 3-4 cm long. They taper at both ends.

There are 80-95 Canarium species. This one has a black resin which burns.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is native to the eastern Himalayas between 400-1,300 m altitude. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The cover of the ripe fruit are eaten raw and also used for pickles. They can be dried. The seeds/nuts are also eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, kernel, nut

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

It is fast growing. In Nagaland fruit are available October to December.

Its other names

Local names

Beraw, Chakronthi, Dhuna, Dhup, Doopamara, Gokul dhup, Halemmadu, Hilum, Kala dammar, Karapu kongiliam, Karinkunthirik-kam, Karuttukungiliyam, Kong, Kundrikam, Kungilium, Liangmesen, Nalla, Pantappayan, Poirek gulo, Raldhup, Rojanamu, Schellum, Singlu, Tendalake, Thelli, Thellippayin

Synonyms

Pimela stricta Bl.;