Keari tree
Terminalia solomonensis
Family: Combretaceae
What it is like
Trees from 25 to 40 m tall. The trunk can be 3.3 m around. The bark is dark brown and thick. It peels in strips from below and the lower part bends outwards. The crown is small and cone shaped. The branches are not in distinct layers. The leaves are generally in clusters on the ends of twigs. The leaf stalk is 2-3 cm long and often curved. The leaves are 10-18 cm long and 6-9 cm wide. The tip is rounded but the base is tapering. The flowers are about 3 mm long and on spikes about 18 cm long. Male and female flowers are separate on the same spike. The fruit is 4-5 cm long and 2-3.5 cm wide. It is mostly smooth and unwrinkled but sometimes flattened. It does not have a distinct wing. The fruit is red and firmly fleshy when ripe.
There are about 200-250 Terminalia species. They are tropical.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It is mostly in the lowland areas but can be up to 1,200 m altitude. It can grow on swampy ground.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Solomon Islands
How it is used for food
The flesh of the ripe fruit can be eaten. They are preferred cooked. They can be baked or roasted. The unripe fruit can be eaten but must be cooked.
Edible parts
Seeds, fruit
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed.
In Papua New Guinea trees are in flower in July and August with fruit in December.
Its other names
Local names
Aitanga, Gari mwara, Kalalamo, Nambisi, Nona daulwa, Nyia tekalamo, Papagoma, Phopoi, Pohon ketapang, keari, Popoli, Tohoma, To'oma