Literature Cited plants, spring and fall 1988. Bradenton GCREC Res. Rept. BRA 1989- 8. Howe, T. K. and W. E. Waters. 1990a. Observations of flowering bedding Howe, T. K. and W. E. Waters. 1985. Evaluation of petunia: spring and plants, spring, summer and fall 1989. Bradenton GCREC Res. Rept. fall 1984. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 98:335-341. BRA1990-8. Howe, T. K. and W. E. Waters. 1986a. Observations of flowering bedding Howe, T. K. and W. E. Waters. 1990b. Observations of flowering bedding plants, spring 1985. Bradenton GCREC Res. Rept. BRA1986-6. plants, spring 1990. Bradenton GCREC Res. Rept. BRA 1990-21. Howe, T. K. and W. E. Waters. 1986b. Observations of flowering bedding Howe, T. K. and W. E. Waters. 1991. Observations of flowering bedding plants, fall 1985. Bradenton GCREC Res. Rept. BRA 1986-8. plants, fall-winter 1990-1991. Bradenton GCREC Res. Rept. Howe, T. K. and W. E. Waters. 1987a. Observations of flowering bedding BRA1991-12. plants, spring 1986. Bradenton GCREC Res. Rept. BRA 1987-13. Stanley, C. D. 1992. Temperature and rainfall report for 1991. Braden Howe, T. K. and W. E. Waters. 1987b. Observations of flowering bedding ton GCREC Res. Rept. BRA1992-2. plants, fall 1986. Bradenton GCREC Res. Rept. BRA1987-15. United States Dept. Agric. 1992. Floriculture Crops 1991 Summary. Nat'l. Howe, T. K. and W. E. Waters. 1988. Observations of flowering bedding Agric. Statistics Serv., USDA, Washington, D.C. plants, spring and fall 1987. Bradenton GCREC Res. Rept. BRA1988- Voight, A. O. 1992. Special report analyzing the 1991 bedding plant 12. season. Prof. Plant Growers Assoc. Season Sales Summary, Lansing, Howe, T. K. and W. E. Waters. 1989. Observations of flowering bedding MI. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 105:251-256. 1992. THE CANDLENUT TREE, HANDSOME AND WIND-RESISTANT, IS A NEGLECTED ORNAMENTAL IN FLORIDA Julia F. Morton having received a gift of seeds from the Philippine Bureau Morton Collectanea of Agriculture in Manila (Anon., 1915). University of Miami Of uncertain origin, possibly eastern Malaysia (Burkill, Coral Gables, FL 33124 1935) it occurs in Kwantung, China, at 3,000 ft altitude (Lee, 1935) and is common, naturalized and cultivated, in Additional index words. Aleurites fordii, A. moluccana, A. triloba, Pakistan and South India (Anon., 1985); abounds all over Imperata cylindrica, lalang, linseed, lumbang, tung. Malaysia, especially the Molucca Islands (Steinmetz, 1965); the Philippines, New Zealand, and Queensland, Australia. Abstract. The candlenut tree, or kukui, Aleurites moluccana It is barely able "to endure the winters of Melbourne" (von (L) Willd., of the family Euphorbiaceae, grows wild in the Mueller, 1885). It has become well established in Mauritius rainforests of the islands of Malaysia (but not on the main (Baker, 1877); also all over Polynesia, including the land of Asia); also in Melanesia and Polynesia; and is widely Ryukyu Islands (Walker, 1954) and Hawaii where it grows cultivated in the tropics. Introduced by aborigines into profusely and is sometimes dominant (Merrill, 1943) in Hawaii, the tree became naturalized on the slopes of the wet, the lower rainforests. It does not do well on limestone in windward coasts. Normally 20-60 ft in height, it has a broad Guam but inhabits farmlands in the southern part of the canopy of triangular, evergreen leaves, white-woolly when island (Safford, 1905; Stone, 1970). As the seeds are be young, and hence showy in the forests. The small, white, lieved incapable of floating on ocean currents, man is con dioecious flowers are followed by clusters of nearly round sidered to be the main distributor (Barrau, 1960). Arabs fruits, to 2-1/2 in wide, with thick, fleshy rind and 1-2 blac conveyed them to East Africa (Burkill, 1935). In Hawaii, kish, rough seeds having crisp, white kernels. The tree is free solid groves of candlenut trees were cleared to make way of pests though the soft, rotting fallen wood is devoured by for sugar plantations. There are still some remnants of beetles, which are in turn eagerly roasted and eaten by local ancient sacred groves in remote areas where ceremonies people. The wood is used for fuel, floats for fishing nets, crates were conducted (Handy and Handy, 1972). and sometimes canoes. The foliage and wood are buried to In the New World, it has become common in Bermuda enrich the soil in taro fields. The kernels contain 60% of a (Britton, 1918), runs wild in waste places in the Bahamas drying oil formerly exported from Hawaii to Russian settlers (Correll and Correll, 1982), is occasionally grown in vari on the northwestern coast of America. Fishermen chew the ous Caribbean islands, including Dominica (Nicolson et al., raw kernels and spew them out over the water to calm it. 1991). In Puerto Rico it does best from sea level to 2,000 After roasting, the kernel is edible and widely consumed. ft in moist limestone areas (Little et al., 1974). It is a famil Various parts of the tree produce other economic products iar tree in parts of Panama, where it is planted for shade (dye, tannin, etc., and folk remedies). The hollowed shells, (Escobar, 1972; Standley, 1928); also in El Salvador, after retting, smoothing and polishing to a "jet" finish, are Guatemala, Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil (Aguilar strung in necklaces (leis) selling for as much as $35. This Giron, 1966; Allen, 1943; Perez-Arbelaez, 1956; Schnee, useful tree might aid in reforesation in Latin America and 1960). should help to beautify South Florida. Because of its wide distribution, it has acquired a number of local names besides the best-known and well- A stately tree, so comely and faultless that it attracts earned "candlenut". Among them are: ama (Polynesia); little attention, the candlenut, Aleurites moluccana (L.) lama (Samoa); arbol de India (El Salvador); Bengal nut Willd., (syn. A. triloba R. Forst. and G. Forst.), of the family (India); kekuna (Ceylon); mayow (Thailand); kemeeri, de- Euphorbiaceae, is rare in Florida though it was introduced rekan (Java); Indian walnut (Malaya); tuitui (Cook Is by the United States Department of Agriculture in 1915, lands); kukui, when raw; inamora, when cooked (Hawaii); Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 105: 1992. 251 is a crisp, cream-colored shell (resembling an egg-shell), enclosing 1-2 (rarely 3) irregular, angular, more or less oblate, black "nuts", appearing grayish because of a white, waxy coating (Brown, 1954). The white kernel is firm and walnut-flavored (Britton and Wilson, 1923-24; Dastur, 1951; Degener, 1945; Dickey etal., 1952; Little etal., 1974; Ochse and Bakhuizen van den Brink, 1931; Quisumbing, 1951). It is somewhat toxic, indigestible, or purgative when raw (especially when immature) (Webb, 1948) but has been an important food of Australian aborigines (Cribb and Cribb, 1975). Arnold (1944) says the kernels are "perfectly wholesome" when cooked. Filipinos often employ the seeds as a mild laxative (Quisumbing, 1951), and I have known one Florida farmer who did so occasionally with no ill ef fect. There have also been instances when children in Florida have eaten raw seeds and shown no sign of illness. In Malaya, roasted seeds are added to curries (Burkill, 1935) and are sold as "snacks" in native shops (Corner, 1952). Howes (1953) says that the seeds are edible and palatable after "being stored for some time until they are thoroughly dry". However, they should not be consumed in excess (Cribb and Cribb 1975). Hawaiians roast the ker Fig. 1. The candlenut tree (Aleurites moluccana (L.) Willd.) is strong nels, chop them, mix them with seaweed and serve as a and stately, with a broad canopy of evergreen foliage. Photo by Julia F. Morton. relish at feasts (Safford, 1905). In Java, kernels from which the oil has been extracted are soaked in water for 48 hrs lumbang, lumbang bato (Philippines); navi (New Guinea); and then steamed, after covering with a banana leaf and napa or nepa (New Hebrides); gem, gun, jem, maidu, kept in the dark under pressure in a basket for 4 days. The rhawa, tai, and veti (New Caledonia); lauci, sekeci, qere- fermented product (sauce) is esteemed for its flavor (Bur qere, tuitui, and toto (Fiji); nogal de la India (Panama and kill, 1935; Ochse and Bakhuizen van den Brink, 1931). Venezuela); noyer de Bancoul; noguiera de Bancul In Sumatra, the processed kernels are used as a substi (Brazil); nuez de India (Puerto Rico); country walnut, tute for coconut (Ochse and Bakhuizen van den Brink, Otaheite walnut (Virgin Islands); candleberry (Trinidad); 1931). Roasted kernels are added to curries, and are also tungo (Guatemala); varnish tree (various locales); and pounded with hot peppers, salt and shrimp paste, or the many more (Aguilar, 1919; Aguilar Giron, 1966; Allen, dried ink bag of the squid (Degener, 1945). Steinmetz 1943; Barrau, 1960; Benthall, 1946; Britton, 1918; Britton (1965) says that after World War II, small amounts of and Wilson, 1923-24; Brown, 1954; Burkill, 1935; Christo- candlenuts were being used in western restaurants to pherson, 1935; Corner, 1952; Escobar A., 1972; Fenzi, flavor "special Oriental dishes". 1915; Kaaiakamanu and Akina, 1922; Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium, 1976; Little et al., 1974; Merrill, 1943; Mors Candlenut Oil and Rizzini, 1966; Ochse and Bakhuizen van den Brink, The expressed oil, "mixed with salt, is the universal 1931; Quisumbing, 1951; Richenda Parham, 1943; Roig y condiment of Hawaiians for seasoning fish and poi" Mesa, 1945; Safford, 1905; Schnee, 1960; Steinmetz, 1965; (Handy and Handy, 1972). The kernels contain 33 to Sturtevant, 1919; Williams and Williams, 1951). Description The candlenut is fairly fast-growing (Brown, 1954); it is usually a tree of medium size—30 to 45 ft—sometimes to 60, or even 90 ft in very favorable locations (Degener, 1945).