Pili nut, Java-almond
Canarium vulgare

Family: Burseraceae

What it is like

A tree which grows up to 45 m high. It can be 70 cm across the trunk. Buttresses can be 3 m high and 1.5 m wide. The small branches are about 0.5 cm across. (When cut across, this, like most Canariums has separate vascular bundles similar to that found in a root). The leafy structures (stipules) fall off early but are more on the branch than the leaf stalk. They are oblong and 1-5 cm long by 0.5-1.7 cm wide. The edges are not divided. The leaves have 4 or 5 pairs of leaflets and are without hairs. The leaflets are oblong and 5-16 cm long by 3-8 cm wide. They can be papery in texture. The base can be broadly wedge shaped. The tip tapers. There are 12-15 pairs of veins which are slightly curved. The flower clusters occur at the ends of branches. Male flower clusters can be 35 cm long with branches 20 cm long. Female flower clusters are 20 cm long with branches 10 cm long. The flowers are hairy and male flowers have almost no stalk while female flower stalks are 6-7 mm long. The fruiting stalks can be 15 cm long with about 12 fruit. The fruit are oval and slightly triangular. They are 3-5 cm long by 1.5-3 cm across. There are 1-3 seeds inside.

This plant is very similar to Canarium indicum but considered separate. The names have often been confused. There are 80-95 Canarium species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It does well on limestone soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cook Islands, East Timor, Fiji, FSM, Hawaii, Indonesia (country/location of origin), Malaysia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Pohnpei, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, USA, Vanuatu

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten. An oily mixture made from the seeds is used as a baby food.

Edible parts

Nuts, seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Chinese-olive, Gisau, Kenari nut-tree

Synonyms

Canarium commune auct.; Often confusion with Canarium indicum L.;