Biology, Agroforestry and Medicinal Value of Calophyllum Inophyllum L. (clusiacea): a Review

Introduction Calophyllum inophyllum L. (Kamani, Tamanu, Alexandrian Laurel, Pinnai (Tamil) is an evergreen tree with supports a dense canopy of glossy, elliptical leaves, fragrant white flowers and large round nuts. It grows along coastal areas and adjacent lowland forests; occasionally occurs inland at higher elevations. It has been widely planted throughout the tropics and is naturalized in the main Hawaiian Islands (Friday & Okano, 2004). The tree is valued for its hardiness and beauty as an ornamental tree. In Hawai‘I it is traditionally used for food vessels and in Palau for storyboards (Little & Skolmen, 1989). Oil from the nuts has been traditionally used for medicine and cosmetics and is today being produced commercially in the South Pacific. The fragrant flowers have been prized as an adornment and as a perfume. The dense shade cast by the thick crowns provides shelter but does not favor under story plantings (Lamb, 1981). It withstands typhoons. The tree grows best in direct sunlight, but 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 (MuellerDombois & Fosberg, 1998).