There has been much disagreement amongst botanists over the correct application of the name Calophyllum calaba. Specimens from three different species have at times been confused and given this name. We have followed the treatment of Stevens[], and applied this name to the Sri Lankan species[]. This Indian species is treated here as Calophyllum apetalum and the tropical American species as Calophyllum brasiliense[].

Common Name:

General Information

Calophyllum apetalum is an evergreen tree growing from 8 - 30 metres tall. The bole, which is unbuttressed, is up to 80cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its edible fruit, the oil from its seed and its timber.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southwestern India.

Habitat

Locally abundant in riverine forests at elevations up to 610 metres[]. Usually along streams in low elevation wet evergreen forests up to 900 metres.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist to wet tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,735 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 30 - 35°c, but can tolerate 12 - 38°c[]. It can be killed by temperatures of 4°c or lower[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 3,000 - 6,000mm, but tolerates 1,300 - 8,000mm[].
Grows best in full sun, tolerating light shade[]. Prefers a medium-textured soil of moderate fertility[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.5 - 7[].

Edible Uses

The fruit is edible[].

An oil with a characteristic smell and a bitter taste can be extracted from the seeds; with refinement the bitterness
is lost[]. The oil is composed of the glycerides of stearic, palmitic, oleic, and probably linoleic acids[]. The report does not say id the oil is edible[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

An oil with a characteristic smell and a bitter taste can be extracted from the seeds; with refinement the bitterness
is lost[]. The oil is composed of the glycerides of stearic, palmitic, oleic, and probably linoleic acids[]. It is used for burning in India[].

The wood is strong. It is used both in the construction of boats and oil mills and in general building[].

Propagation

Seed -

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