Talie
Terminalia samoensis

Family: Combretaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 5-20 m tall. Plants can be stunted in windy places. Young plant parts can have hairs. The leaves are clustered at the ends of the twigs. The leaf stalks are 1-2 cm long. The leaves are rounded but oval. They are 9-16 cm long by 6-13 cm wide. The tip is rounded. They taper slightly to a rounded base. The flowers are 5-6 mm long. The fruit are flattened and green when young. They become red and fleshy when ripe. They are 2-2.5 cm long by 1-1.5 cm wide. There are 6 fruit is a cluster. The kernels are small and edible.

There are about 200-250 Terminalia species. They are tropical.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on coral coasts on islands in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. It is often in exposed locations.

Countries/locations it is found in

American Samoa, Chuuk, FSM, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Indonesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pohnpei, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Yap

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Nuts, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chesemiich, Ekkon, Khin, Khun, Kil, Kon, Kukon, Te ukin

Synonyms

Terminalia saffordii Merr.;