Java almond, Pili nut, Manila elemi
Canarium luzonicum

Family: Burseraceae

What it is like

A large tree. It can grow up to 35 m high and be 1 m through in the trunk. The leaves have 3-5 pairs of opposite leaflets and a leaflet at the end. The leaflets are long or oval and 7-25 cm long by 4-8 cm wide. The leaflets are pointed at the tip and wedge shaped at the base. At the base of the leaf stalk there is a round leafy structure called a stipule. It can be 8 mm across and softly hairy. The small branches are 4-6 mm thick. The flowers are fairly small and borne in large compound flower clusters. The flower clusters occur in the axils of leaves. The male clusters are 10-25 cm long while the female clusters are 5-18 cm long. There are many male flowers in the cluster but 3-5 female flowers in the female clusters. The fruiting stalk can be 4-10 cm long. The fruit is oval and slightly triangular in cross section. Fruit are 2-4 cm long by 1-2 cm wide.

There are 80-95 Canarium species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. Common in the primary forest of Luzon and also found in Marinduque, Tacao, Mindoro and Masbate in Philippines. They grow at low to medium altitudes.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Ghana, Malaysia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, West Africa

How it is used for food

The kernels of the nuts are eaten raw or roasted. The fruit pulp can be cooked. Young shoots can be eaten raw.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Seeds kernel, nuts, fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

Flowering occurs mainly in August and September and fruiting in January and February.

Its other names

Local names

Antong, Bikolano, Elemi, Pining-liitan, Sahing

Synonyms

Canarium carapifolium Perk.; Canarium commune (non L.) F. Vill.; Canarium oliganthum Merr.; Canarium polyanthum Perk.; Canarium triandrum Engl.; Pimela luzonica Blume;