Common Name: Canarium Nut

General Information

Canarium indicum is an evergreen tree with a dense crown that casts a deep, wide shade; it usually grows up to 25 metres tall, exceptionally to 40 metres[]. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 100cm in diameter, with tall but thin buttresses at the base[, ].
Canarium nut is amongst the oldest and most important tree crops in Melanesia, and is an integral part of one of the world’s first known permanent agroforestry systems. The seed is a highly valued food within the plants native range, where it is often harvested from the wild and is also often planted around villages and settlements[]. The seeds are often sold in local markets, and have a significant commercial potential on a wider scale[, ]. The tree also yields a useful resin, has medicinal applications and a useful timber. Canarium nut is also grown as an ornamental and makes an excellent shade tree[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Eastern Indonesia, Papua, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.

Habitat

A canopy or subcanopy tree in low elevation rainforests[, ]. Usually found near the coast and up to elevations of 450 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Canarium indicum is a plant of the lowland, subhumid to humid tropics, found at elevations from sea level to about 600 metres[]. It experiences very warm temperatures throughout the year with a mean annual temperature of 25 - 28°c; and an annual rainfall in the range of 1,800 - 4,000 mm[]. Plants are usually found in areas where the dry season is less than 2 months, but they can tolerate up to 4 months dry season[].
Prefers a medium to heavy-textured soil of moderate to high fertility[]. Intolerant of shallow, infertile, or saline soils[]. Fruits best in a position with little or no shade, though young trees grow best in semi-shade[]. Plants succeed with free to slightly impeded drainage and a neutral pH[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.1 - 7.4[]. Plants are fairly tolerant of strong winds, quickly recovering if any damage is caused[].
The tree has a minor potential to become invasive[].
Plants grow fairly slowly during their first year, usually reaching 0.6 - 2 metres in height[]. After that, the growth rate increases with annual height increases of 2.5 - 3 metres common for the next 5 - 6 years[].
Trees produce a deep taproot[].
Plants can commence fruiting when about 7 years old[].
Annual yields have been estimated at up to 4 - 7 tonnes of kernels per hectare[].
Selection of plants over the centuries has led to a number of distinct forms with thinner shells and larger seeds[].
Plants are most commonly dioecious, meaning that both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required. However, some trees also bear hermaphrodite flowers plus either male or female flowers[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[, ]. The oily seed is consumed either fresh, roasted or smoked. It can be eaten as a snack food or incorporated into various cooked dishes[, ]. Nuts which are removed from the shell and roasted can be stored in sealed containers for many months. The nuts are often coarsely ground and added to other foods[]. The seed coat should not be eaten because it carries some substance that can produce diarrhoea[]. The seed can vary widely in size and weight, measuring 28 - 62 mm long by 20 - 35 mm wide and weighing 8 - 20 g each fresh weight[].

An edible oil can be obtained from the seed[]. It is eaten mixed with other foods[].

The fruit of some cultivars is edible[]. The fruit is an ovoid drupe, 3 - 6cm long and 2 - 3cm wide[].

Medicinal

A preparation made from the bark is used for the treatment of chest pains[, ].

Dried old nuts are ground into a powder and combined with some cooked taro oil (Colocasia esculenta). The oil is drunk and the remainder eaten in order to induce sterility[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants are very wind resistant and make an excellent addition to the top storey of a shelterbelt[, ].
Canarium nut is amongst the oldest and most important tree crops in Melanesia, where it is an integral part of one of the world’s first known permanent agroforestry systems[].

Other Uses

A resin oozes from wounds on the trunk caused by a variety of natural factors such as pests/diseases, damage during cyclones, etc[]. This resin was formerly collected for use as canoe caulk and was burnt to give light[]. The resin is aromatic and has been used as incense[].

The soot from burning resin was formerly used as a ceremonial black face paint[].

An oil extracted from the kernel has various local uses. It may be substituted for coconut oil and has potential in skin-care products[].
The oil-rich seeds can be strung together, then lit and used as torches[].

The pink-brown wood is soft and fine textured. It has a medium density and is non-durable when exposed to weather[, ]. It is suitable for light construction (in low-decay situations), moldings, veneer, and numerous interior purposes[]. Traditionally, the wood is used to make canoes, bowls and other wood articles[].
The wood is sometimes used as a fuel[, ].

Propagation

Seed -pre-soak in fresh water for 24 hours prior to sowing[]. Discard any nuts that float or that do not sink completely to the bottom[]. Seed should be sown 1 cm deep on their sides directly into large pots or polybags, or 3 - 4 can be sown together direct into the position where the tree is to grow[]. Nursery grown plants are usually ready to plant out when they are about 3 months old, by which time they should be up to 30cm tall[].
The seed has a short viability and should be sown as soon as possible after collection. If seeds need to stored for a few weeks, then the outer flesh should be removed and the nut-in-shell stored in a shaded, cool (e.g., 15 - 25°C) dry place, secure from rodents and other pests[].

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