Eden

Penang Botanic Gardens Plant Collection

Calophyllum inophyllum L. (CALOPHYLLACEAE)

Posted at — Nov 13, 2019
Penaga Laut, Alexandrian Laurel

Description

Medium-sized tree to 20 m with spreading crown. Leaves 8-18 cm long, opposite, broadly elliptic oblong. Flowers 2-2.5 cm long, white, in loose racemes. Fruits c. 3 cm across, globose to ovoid, smooth, dull green to brownish when ripe.

Ecology

Common along beaches and rocky coasts.

Distribution

A very widespread species from E Africa, Madagascar, Indian Ocean Is., Sri Lanka, India, SE Asia, Taiwan, SE China (Hainan), to N Australia, New Caledonia and Pacific Is.

Uses

Widely planted as an ornamental street tree. The timber produces a rich re-brown colour with a fine grain, fairly durable. Fruits are sold commercially as punnai nuts and yield a dark green oil which is strongly aromatic but mildly toxic.