Common Name: Malabar Chestnut

General Information

Malabar chestnut is an evergreen tree with a dense, roundish crown. It usually grows 6 - 14 metres tall, but exceptionally to 23 metres. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 30 - 40cm in diameter, usually branching from fairly low down[].
The plant has a wide range of uses, being valued especially for its edible seeds but also providing other foods, medicines, fibre, dyestuff, wood etc. It is often cultivated, and has become naturalized, in many areas of the tropics for its edible seed[, ]. The tree is also planted as a street tree, to provide shade and as an ornamental in gardens[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to Mexico.

Habitat

River estuaries and lowland rainforests[]. Sparsely vegetated, marshy riverine, clay soils; also grows well on sandy or sandy-clay soils of terra firma[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bats
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the humid tropics, it is able to tolerate a wide range of temperatures and humidity[].
Prefers a deep, fertile loamy soil in full sun or light shade[, ]. Established plants are drought resistant[].
The seeds are able to float in water for several months without loss of viability, not germinating until they are washed up on the land[].
A fast-growing tree, able to reach a height of 3.5 metres within 2 years from seed[].
Flowers are first produced when plants are 4 - 5 years[].
Flowering and fruiting can take place throughout the year[].
Plants are often grown as bonsai specimens and house plants, being very tolerant of drought and shade[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked. The raw seed tastes like peanuts, when roasted or fried in oil it has the flavour of chestnuts[]. The roasted seeds taste like cocoa[]. The seed can be ground into a flour and used to make a bread[]. The roasted seed is sometimes used to make a beverage[]. The seeds are contained in a large capsule that can be up to 30cm long and weigh 3 kilos[].

The seeds yield 58% of a white, inodorous fat which, when refined, is suitable for cooking[]

Young leaves and flowers - cooked and used as a vegetable[, , ].

Medicinal

The skin of the immature green fruit is used in the treatment of hepatitis[].

The seeds are used as an anaesthetic[].


The bark is used medicinally to treat stomach complaints and headaches while[]. A tisane from the boiled bark is used as a blood tonic[].

A cold water infusion of the crushed leaves is used to treat a burning sensation in the skin[].

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the bark[]. A dark red dye is obtained[].

A fibre is obtained from the bark[]. It is used for caulking boats and cordage[].

The oil from the seed has industrial potential for manufacturing soap[].

The fruit is spread on the ground in order to repel sand fleas[].

The white wood is light in weight, fibrous, soft and of low durability[, ]. It is used only for low quality purposes such as making boxes and matches and is suitable for manufacturing paper, yielding 36% cellulose paste[, ].

Propagation

Seed - - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in individual containers. A germination rate of almost 100% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 5 - 10 days[, ]. Seedlings grow away quickly and they should be ready to plant out 3 - 4 months later[, ].
The seed has a very short viability of 20 - 30 days in storage[].
Cuttings
Layering

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