Common Name: Nicobar Canoetree

General Information

Calophyllum soulattri is usually a tall, evergreen tree growing up to a height of 30 metres, though rarely it is only a shrub a few metres tall. The bole, which is rarely buttressed or spurred, is up to 70cm in diameter[]
The tree is widely exploited from the wild for its timber, which is exported in large quantities[]. The plant is also sometimes grown as a shade tree and ornamental[].
The tree is s exploited throughout its range as one of the best 'bintangor' timbers. It is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

The latex in the plant has been used to poison dogs[].

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Nicobar and Andaman Islands, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines to Australia and the Solomon Islands.

Habitat

Lowland or lower montane rain forest or sometimes in swamp forest at elevations up to 1,700 metres[]. Usually grows in small, well developed pockets of rain forest around soaks and springs in Australia.

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The tree prefers well-drained habitats but is sometimes found in the wild in swamp forest, where it develops small knee roots[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - sour[]. The somewhat sour fruits can be eaten, but if eaten in excess they cause severe stomach-ache and diarrhoea[]. The more or less spherical fruit is up to 16mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

An infusion of the root is rubbed on to affected areas in order to alleviate rheumatic pain[].

Fresh bark from the shoots is used as medicine for women who have just given birth[].

The oil obtained from the seed is used externally in the treatment of rheumatism and skin infections[]. Injected into the muscles, the refined oil relieves the pain in leprosy[].

Other Uses

Oil can be extracted from the seeds by heating them either cut and with water or finely crushed. The oil contains resin; the purified oil contains approximately 49.7% oleic acid, 23.8% linoleic acid, 16.8% palmitic acid, and 9.7% stearic acid. It is used in soap making and is important as an illuminant[]. In parts of Oceania the oil is used to anoint the body, as either a substitute for, or a pleasant-smelling additive to, coconut oil[]. Mixed with the resin of Vateria spp, the oil is used for caulking boats[].

The leaves are reported to make a durable thatch[].

The light-red wood is cross-grained, moderately hard, durable, elastic, easily worked[, ]. The wood is not very durable[]. It is used for masts, spars, construction and planking[, ].

Propagation

Seed -

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