Dracontomelon vitiense
Engl.
Anacardiaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Dracontomelon vitiense is a tree that can grow 8 - 20 metres tall. The bole can be up to 90cm in diameter with buttresses[
339- Title
- Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability
- Publication
-
- Author
- W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents
- Publisher
- United Nations University Press, Tokyo
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 92-808-0824-9
- Description
- The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of wood. The fruit can be an important seasonal food in some areas of its natural range, where it is commonly sold in local markets[
339- Title
- Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability
- Publication
-
- Author
- W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents
- Publisher
- United Nations University Press, Tokyo
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 92-808-0824-9
- Description
- The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
490- Title
- Flora Vitiensis Nova
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith. A.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden; Hawaii
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A comprehensive flora of Fiji, often showing plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
Western Pacific - New Hebrides, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.
Habitat
Occasional in garden and fallow areas, tree groves, and mature fallow forest or open forest; at elevations up to 300 metres[
339- Title
- Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability
- Publication
-
- Author
- W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents
- Publisher
- United Nations University Press, Tokyo
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 92-808-0824-9
- Description
- The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above.
,
490- Title
- Flora Vitiensis Nova
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith. A.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden; Hawaii
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A comprehensive flora of Fiji, often showing plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 14.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
Fruit - rae[
339- Title
- Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability
- Publication
-
- Author
- W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents
- Publisher
- United Nations University Press, Tokyo
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 92-808-0824-9
- Description
- The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above.
,
490- Title
- Flora Vitiensis Nova
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith. A.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden; Hawaii
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A comprehensive flora of Fiji, often showing plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. Tough and insipid[
490- Title
- Flora Vitiensis Nova
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith. A.C.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden; Hawaii
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A comprehensive flora of Fiji, often showing plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The green or yellow fruit is about 35mm in diameter, with a yellowish pulp[
339- Title
- Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability
- Publication
-
- Author
- W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents
- Publisher
- United Nations University Press, Tokyo
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 92-808-0824-9
- Description
- The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above.
].
Medicinal
The bark is used as a birthing aid - a hand-sized piece is soaked in cold water until soft, and then applied to the
woman's navel[
389- Title
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Vol. 37, pp179 - 196
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bourdy. G. & Walter. A.
- Publisher
- Elsevier Scientific Publishers; Ireland.
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on various herbs used to facilitate childbirth in Vanuatu. Available to download as a PDF document from the Internet.
].
Other Uses
The wood is used in light construction[
339- Title
- Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability
- Publication
-
- Author
- W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents
- Publisher
- United Nations University Press, Tokyo
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 92-808-0824-9
- Description
- The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above.
].
The wood is used for fuel[
339- Title
- Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability
- Publication
-
- Author
- W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents
- Publisher
- United Nations University Press, Tokyo
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 92-808-0824-9
- Description
- The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above.
].
We do not have any more specific information on the wood of this species. However, the following is a general description of the wood from plants in this genus:-
The heartwood varies from light brown, grayish, greenish-yellow to reddish-brown, often with irregular dark brown to nearly black banding; the wide band of sapwood is pinkish, or grayish. The texture is moderately fine to coarse; the grain straight to interlocked and irregular, with a decorative figure if quarter cut; the wood is lustrous; there is no distinctive odour or taste. The heartwood is not durable and is not resistant to termite attack. The wood is easy to work; glues satisfactorily; takes a good finish and polish; veneers well. It is used for purposes such as furniture and cabinetwork, paneling, decorative veneers (walnut-like in appearance), gunstocks, flooring, joinery[
316- Title
- Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chudnoff. Martin.
- Publisher
- USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin.
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics.
].
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
