Common Name:

General Information

Atuna racemosa is a tree growing up to 45 metres tall in Malaysia, but often smaller elsewhere. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 90cm in diameter and unbranched for 10 metres[, , ].
The tree is commonly harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials, especially as a caulk for boats. It is often retained when clearing forest for cultivation in the Pacific Islands[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southeast Asia - Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, to New Guinea and the western Pacific Islands.

Habitat

A mid-canopy tree in undisturbed forests at elevations up to 400 metres. It is usually found on hillsides and ridges with sandy to clayey soils[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a well-drained soil[].

Edible Uses

The grated fruit is sometimes used as a condiment in the Philippines[].

Medicinal

An essential oil obtained from the seeds, combined with coconut milk and other aromatic plants is used as a massage oil. It has been shown to have antiinflammatory properties and is used to relieve body aches and pains, especially in the back, neck and stomach[]. The oil is applied to the skin of children in order to keep off flies and to prevent scabies and other itching[].

The inner bark is used to treat high blood pressure[].
The inner, living bark is immersed in water and a tea prepared to treat severe abdominal pains of the lower intestinal
area[].

The leaves are used in the treatment of swellings and inflammations[]. When a leg is swollen, the leaves
are soaked in the oil obtained from the seeds and are then wrapped around the leg[].

The roots of the plant were formerly used to treat an infection of the soles of feet, especially of children between 5 and 10 years of age. This illness, which Samoans call Toga, is no longer a problem since the advent of antibiotics[].

Other Uses

The fruit is grated and made into a putty-like material which is used for caulking boats and canoes[]. Used especially on boats made from planks, the caulk is very strong and effective, and is said to last the lifetime of the boat[]. The skins of the fruits are pounded and shredded to make the canoe caulk which can also be used as an adhesive to adhere inlay in carvings and as a waterproofing in baskets etc[, ].

A fragrant oil is extracted from the ruminate cotyledons (seeds) of the mature fruits[, ]. The seeds are crushed to make a fragrant juice which is used to scent coconut oil[, ]. The oil from the seeds, combined with coconut oil and various other fragrant plants is used as a medicinal and massage oil, is applied to the skin of children to keep off flies and is used as a hair dressing[]. The oil from the seeds is probably an essential oil, but the reports do not make this clear[].

The leafy branchlets, with the leaves attached, are used to thatch or insulate the outside walls of houses[]. A popular thatch because the leaves remain attached to the twigs indefinitely[].

The timber is not of very good quality, but is used for posts, poles, light construction and canoe spars[, , ].
In Samoa the wood is considered to be light in weight, hard, very strong, resistant and long-lasting due to its high silica content. It is sometimes used in the construction of houses and in boat making[].

The leaves are used for the ceremonial decoration of houses in the Solomon Islands[].

Propagation

Seed -

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