April 2006 Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry ver. 2.1 www.traditionaltree.org Calophyllum inophyllum (kamani) Clusiaceae (syn. Guttiferae) (mangosteen family) Alexandrian laurel, beach mahogany, beauty leaf, poon, oil nut tree (English); beach calophyllum (Papua New Guinea), biyuch (Yap); btaches (Palau); daog, daok (Guam, N. Marianas); dilo (Fiji); eet (Kosrae); feta‘u (Tonga); fetau (Samoa); isou (Pohnpei); kamani, kamanu (Hawai‘i); lueg (Marshalls); rakich (Chuuk); tamanu (Cook Islands, Society Islands, Marquesas); te itai (Kiribati) J. B. Friday and Dana Okano photo: J. B. Friday B. J. photo: Kamani trees are most commonly seen along the shoreline (Hilo, Hawai‘i). IN BRIEF Growth rate May initially grow up to 1 m (3.3 ft) in height Distribution Widely dispersed throughout the tropics, in- per year on good sites, although usually much more slowly. cluding the Hawaiian and other Pacific islands. Main agroforestry uses Mixed-species woodlot, wind- break, homegarden. Size Typically 8–20 m (25–65 ft) tall at maturity. Main products Timber, seed oil. Habitat Strand or low-elevation riverine, 0–200 m (660 ft) Yields No timber yield data available; 100 kg (220 lb) in Hawai‘i, up to 800 m (2000 ft) at the equator; mean an- nuts/tree/yr yielding 5 kg (11 lb) oil. nual temperatures 18–33°C (64–91°F); annual rainfall 1000– Intercropping Casts a heavy shade, so not suitable as an 5000 mm (40–200 in). overstory tree; has been grown successfully in mixed-species Vegetation Occurs on beach and in coastal forests. timber stands. Soils Grows best in sandy, well drained soils. Invasive potential Low potential to become invasive. INTRODUCTION ing the Hawaiian and other Pacific islands and the Ca- ribbean. In Hawai‘i it is naturalized in coastal zones on Kamani is a medium-sized to large evergreen tree that av- Hawai‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i. erages 8–20 m (25–65 ft) in height with a broad spreading crown of irregular branches. The tree supports a dense can- opy of glossy, elliptical leaves, fragrant white flowers, and BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION large round nuts. It grows along coastal areas and adjacent lowland forests, although it occasionally occurs inland at Preferred scientific name Calophyllum inophyllum L. higher elevations. It is native to east Africa, India, South- Family Clusiaceae (syn. Guttiferae) (mangosteen family) east Asia, Australia, and the South Pacific. It has been Non-preferred scientific names widely planted throughout the tropics and is naturalized in the main Hawaiian islands. Balsamaria inophyllum (L.) Lour. The tree is today chiefly valued for its hardiness and beauty Common names as an ornamental tree that provides shade and shelter from Alexandrian laurel, beach mahogany, beauty leaf, poon, oil the wind on streets, in parks, and in coastal areas. The wood nut tree (English) is a prized timber for carving, cabinetmaking, and boat beach calophyllum (Papua New Guinea) building. In Hawai‘i it is traditionally used for food vessels biyuch (Yap) and in Palau for storyboards. Oil from the nuts tradition- btaches (Palau) ally has been used for medicine and cosmetics and is today daog, daok (Guam, N. Marianas) being produced commercially in the South Pacific. It is dilo (Fiji) also used in varnishes and as lamp oil. The fragrant flowers eet (Kosrae) have been prized as an adornment and as a perfume. The feta‘u (Tonga) tree has been regarded as sacred in some Pacific islands, fetau (Samoa) where it has been planted around altars and mentioned in isou (Pohnpei) old chants. Since the tree is tolerant of wind and salt spray, kamani, kamanu (Hawai‘i) it has been used in coastal stabilization. The dense shade lueg (Marshalls) cast by the thick crowns provides shelter but does not favor rakich (Chuuk) understory plantings. tamanu (Cook Islands, Society Islands, Marquesas) Kamani is a useful tree for coastal shelterbelts, windbreaks, te itai (Kiribati) and strand reforestation because it grows well despite the Some common names, e.g., tamanu and beach calophyllum, wind, salt spray, drought, and occasional flooding common are used for more than one species of Calophyllum, espe- to beach environments. It even withstands typhoons. cially when referring to lumber. “Bintangor” is a trade It has a shallow root system, prefers sandy or porous soils, name for timber from other species of Calophyllum in Asia, and tolerates occasional inundation. The tree grows best usually not Calophyllum inophyllum. in direct sunlight, but it grows slowly. Although wildings occur, it can be moderately difficult to propagate. Its slow growth and large seeds make it unlikely that the tree will become an invasive weed if introduced into new areas. DISTRIBUTION Native range The tree is native from East Africa, through India and Southeast Asia to the Philippines, Taiwan, and the Mari- anas. Southward its range extends through Melanesia to Australia and through southern and eastern Polynesia. The habitat is primarily coastal and adjacent to lowland forests. Current distribution Calophyllum, meaning “beauty leaf,” is a remarkably apt name. The tree is widely dispersed throughout the tropics, includ- photo: C. ElEvitCh Calophyllum inophyllum (kamani) Flowers and nearly ripe fruits. photos: C. ElEvitCh Size are 2–5 cm (0.8–2 in) in diameter. The skin, which turns Kamani is a medium-sized to large evergreen tree 8–20 m yellow and then brown and wrinkled when the fruit is ripe, (25–65 ft) in height, sometimes reaching up to 35 m (115 ft). covers the thin pulp, the shell, a corky inner layer, and a Canopy width is often greater than the tree’s height when single seed kernel. Fruits are usually borne twice a year. In the tree is grown in open locations. Hawai‘i fruits fall from April–June and October–Decem- ber. Typical form Seeds It has a broad, spreading crown, often with large, gnarled, horizontal branches. The light gray bark shows deep fis- One large brown seed 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) in diameter is sures alternating with flat ridges. Sap is milky white. found in each fruit. Seeds are prepared by cleaning off the skin and husk from the shell of the seed; there are 100–200 Flowers seeds/kg (45–90 seeds/lb), with shells intact but husks re- moved. It bears clusters of 4–15 fragrant white flowers about 2.5 cm (1 in) across and 8–14 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long on long, sturdy Similar species stalks in leaf axils. There are 4–8 oblong petals. Trees may flower all year, but flowering is heaviest in late spring/early Tropical almond (Terminalia catappa, sea or Indian almond) summer and late fall in the northern hemisphere. is sometimes called false kamani in Hawai‘i, although it bears little resemblance to the true kamani. There are Leaves many other species in the genus Calophyllum in the Pacific, including C. collinum, C. euryphyllum, C. laticostatum, C. The opposite leaves are dark green, shiny, and hairless with papuanum, C. pauciflorum, and C. suberosum in Papua New broadly elliptical blades 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long and 6–9 Guinea; C. peekelii and C. vexans in Papua New Guinea cm (2.4–3.6 in) wide. Both the tip and base of the leaves and the Solomons; C. neo-ebudicum (syn. C. vitiense) in are rounded. Leaf veins run parallel to each other and per- Papua New Guinea, the Solomons, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Ton- pendicular to the midrib. The scientific name Calophyllum ga; and C. soulattri and C. pelewense in Palau; Calophyllum comes from the Greek words for “beautiful leaf.” brasiliense (Santa Maria) is an important timber tree in the Caribbean. Madagascar olive (Noronhia emarginata) is an- Fruit other coastal species of the Indian Ocean that is planted in The ball-shaped, light green fruits grow in clusters. Fruits the Pacific and may be confused with kamani. Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry (www.traditionaltree.org) How to distinguish from similar species Philippines, and Papua New Guinea. Kamani has been Tropical almond (Terminalia catappa) has egg-shaped identified as a priority species for further genetic research leaves with the leaf stems attached at the narrow end. The by the South Pacific Regional Initiative on Forest Genetic leaves have branched veins and turn red as they age. Tropi- Resources (SPRIG). Named varieties include C. inophyllum cal almond fruits are almond-shaped, as the common name var. inophyllum, var. takamaka, and var. wakamatsui. suggests. Kamani is generally a larger tree than Terminalia, with oval leaves with parallel veins and nearly spherical ASSOCIATED PLANT SPECIES fruits. Calophyllum brasiliense is a straight-stemmed tree in contrast to the usually crooked, leaning kamani tree. The tree naturally occurs on beach and coastal forests of Calophyllum vitiense is a tall, straight forest tree of the tropical Asia, Melanesia, Polynesia, and Australia. It may South Pacific. Its leaves are pointed on both ends, unlike also occur on riverbanks further inland and is often re- the blunt oval leaves of kamani. placed in lowland forest by other species of the same genus (e.g., Calophyllum neo-ebudicum in western Polynesia and Malabar olive (Noronhia emarginata) is a smaller tree than eastern Melanesia) (Mueller-Dombois and Fosberg 1998). kamani with only a few indistinct veins in the leaves, as opposed to the dense, parallel veins in the latter. In native habitat In its native range kamani grows along with fish-poi- son tree (Barringtonia asiatica), ironwood (Casuarina equisetifolia, beach she-oak), kou (Cordia subcordata), beach hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus), screwpine (Pandanus tectorius), tropical almond (Terminalia catappa, sea almond), and milo (Thespesia populnea). Associated shrubs often include naupaka (Scaevola sericea) and tree heliotrope (Tournefortia argentea). Native herbaceous plants commonly include Canavalia spp., beach morning glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae), and beach pea (Vigna marina) (Mueller-Dombois and Fosberg 1998).