Common Name: Petroleum Nut

General Information

Pittosporum resiniferum is an aromatic, evergreen shrub or small tree often growing 2 - 10 metres tall though there are reports of plants 25 - 30 metres tall. The bole can be 10 - 20cm in diameter. The plant sometimes grows as an epiphyte[, , , ].
Called 'Petroleum Nut' because of the resemblance of the odour of the fruit's oil to that of petroleum, the oil obtained from the fruit can be used as a fuel. The plant also has a range of local medicinal uses.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Philippines.

Habitat

Not very abundant in any part of the Philippines, but it is widely distributed and usually found on high mountain ridges[]. Found in mossy forests at elevations from 600 - 2,400 metres[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	7.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of moderate to high elevations in the moist to wet tropics, where it can be found at elevations from 600 - 2,400 metres[, ]. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature is within the range 18 - 28°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 5,000mm[].
The plant appears to be light-demanding in the wild[]. Prefers a well-drained soil[].
The tree can commence fruiting when 6 - 12 metres tall[]. Tree can commence bearing fruit within five years from seed[].
One tree yields an average 250 - 300 kilos of fruit per year[]. One litre of high flammable oil can be obtained from 15 kilos of fresh fruits[, ].
There are considerable differences in the proportion of heptane and dihydroterpene found in the oil; the season and degree of ripeness of the fruits undoubtedly playing a considerable role in this respect[].
All parts of the tree are distinctly resiniferous and have the same pleasant, orange-like odour as the fruits[].
The flowers are fragrant[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Herbalists in the Philippines use the fruit of the petroleum nut as a universal medicine[, ].

An infusion of the fruit is used as a remedy for intestinal and stomach pains[].
An oleoresin obtained from the fruit is used externally as a cure for leprosy and other skin diseases; also to bring relief from muscular pains and skin diseases[, ].

A decoction of the nuts is used in the treatment of colds[, ].
The crushed nuts, combined with coconut oil, are used to bring relief from myalgia[].

A decoction of the leaves is taken in the treatment of coughs[].

The sap is used to treat ringworm[].

Other Uses

An oil obtained from the fruit contains a dihydroterpene and also considerable quantities of normal heptane, which had only once before been found in nature, occurring in the digger pine (Pinus sabiniana) of California[]. Dihydroterpene is used in perfumes and medicines, whilst heptane is a component of gasoline, and has been suggested as a possible component of paint and varnish[]. The oil is quite sticky, and in a thin layer rapidly becomes resinous[]. In an open dish it burns strongly, with a sooty flame. It distils unchanged up to 165°, then with decomposition to give a resin oil. The oil distilling from100° to 165° is colourless, with an orange-like odour[].
The essential oil is 8 - 10% of the total fruit weight and comprises 40% myrcene, 38% a-pinene, n-heptane and n-nonane are minor components[].
The fruits, even green ones, burn brilliantly when ignited. Hence they are used like torch nuts or candlenuts for illumination in the bush[, ].
The fruits are about 3cm long, borne in clusters on the stems[].
The oil comes from the fruit, not the seed[].
The nut has a carbon rating of 54, much higher than Jatropha curcas which has 41[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe.
The seed probably has a very short viability of less than 1 month[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 7cm with a heel[].
Basal ripewood cuttings in a cold frame[].

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