Pointed-leaved canarium tree
Canarium acutifolium

Family: Burseraceae

What it is like

A tree which grows to 20 m high and occasionally to 40 m high. The trunk can be 20-90 cm across. It can have buttresses up to 3 m high. The small branches are 1.5 cm thick. The leafy structures (stipules) at the base of the leaf stalk are like threads and 1.5-3.5 cm long. The leaves have 3-5 leaflets. These are oval and 12-30 cm long by 4-11 cm wide. They are papery. The base of the leaflet is slightly oblique but rounded and the tip is long and slender. There are between 11 and 20 pairs of veins which curve near the edge of the leaf. The flower clusters are a shaped like a pyramid and in the axils of leaves. The male clusters are up to 50 cm long and the female clusters 40 cm long. There are many small flowers 4 mm long. The fruit clusters are rigid and have many fruit. The fruit are oval and round in cross section. They are 12-15 mm long by 8-10 mm wide. There is one seed inside. Three different varieties occur based on the number of stamens and number of veins in the leaflets.

There are 80-95 Canarium species. The seeds of all Canarium are probably edible. Staples. p 207

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in rainforest and more open forest near river banks. It suits wet clayey soil. It grows from sea level up to 200 m and occasionally up to 700 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Vanuatu

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Nuts, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds.

Trees flower in July to September.

Its other names

Local names

Mak bei, Pohon kenari daun lancip, Pohon mangkis

Synonyms

Canarium lineistipulata K. Sch. & Laut.; Canarium longiflorum Zipp. ex Miq.; Canarium nigrum Roxb.; Canarium rostratum Zipp.; Dammara nigra Rumph.; Marignia acutifolia DC.; Pimela acutifolia Bl.; Pimela laxiflora Bl.; Santiria lineistipula K. Schum. & Lauterb.;