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Useful Tropical Plants

Calophyllum calaba

L.

Calophyllaceae


There has been much disagreement amongst botanists over the correct application of this name. Specimens from three different species have at times been confused and given this name. We have followed the treatment of Stevens[
532
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol 61
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1980
ISBN
0004-2625
Description
A treatment of the Asian species of Colophyllum is just one of the articles in this publication. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
], and applied this name to the Sri Lankan species[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. The Indian species is listed here as Calophyllum apetalum and the tropical American species as Calophyllum brasiliense[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Calophyllum burmannii Wight

Common Name:

Calophyllum calaba
Flowers
Photograph by: Karen
Creative Commons License
Calophyllum calaba Calophyllum calaba

General Information

Calophyllum calaba is usually an evergreen tree growing up to 40 metres tall with occasional specimens to 49 metres. Occasionally the plant is only a shrub growing 50cm or more tall. The bole can be up to 158cm in diameter[
532
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol 61
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1980
ISBN
0004-2625
Description
A treatment of the Asian species of Colophyllum is just one of the articles in this publication. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The bole is usually without buttresses, but rarely has steep, blunt buttresses up to 4.5 metres tall[
532
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol 61
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1980
ISBN
0004-2625
Description
A treatment of the Asian species of Colophyllum is just one of the articles in this publication. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its edible fruit and timber.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

532
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol 61
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1980
ISBN
0004-2625
Description
A treatment of the Asian species of Colophyllum is just one of the articles in this publication. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

E. Asia - Sri Lanka.

Habitat

Dry or intermediate zone forest, often near the coast and sometimes on sand dunes, at elevations from near sea level to 620 metres[
532
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol 61
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1980
ISBN
0004-2625
Description
A treatment of the Asian species of Colophyllum is just one of the articles in this publication. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height35.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details



A variable species, with at least 5 different forms being recognized[
532
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol 61
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1980
ISBN
0004-2625
Description
A treatment of the Asian species of Colophyllum is just one of the articles in this publication. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The tree has a thick bark and is fire resistant, so it can grow successfully in grassland[
532
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol 61
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1980
ISBN
0004-2625
Description
A treatment of the Asian species of Colophyllum is just one of the articles in this publication. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The tree may sprout from cut stumps[
532
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol 61
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1980
ISBN
0004-2625
Description
A treatment of the Asian species of Colophyllum is just one of the articles in this publication. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[
532
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol 61
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1980
ISBN
0004-2625
Description
A treatment of the Asian species of Colophyllum is just one of the articles in this publication. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. A pleasant, acid taste[
532
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol 61
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1980
ISBN
0004-2625
Description
A treatment of the Asian species of Colophyllum is just one of the articles in this publication. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The sapwood is brown to whitish; the heartwood reddish to dark brown[
532
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol 61
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1980
ISBN
0004-2625
Description
A treatment of the Asian species of Colophyllum is just one of the articles in this publication. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The wood is used for construction, bullock cart poles, spars and axe handles[
532
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol 61
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1980
ISBN
0004-2625
Description
A treatment of the Asian species of Colophyllum is just one of the articles in this publication. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-04-25. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Calophyllum%20calaba>

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