Tropical Plant Database - Plant Details

Kamani is a large attractive spreading tree up to 60 feet high, with a rounded head of dense foliage and rough grey bark. A reddish-brown hardwood is derived from the trunk. The leaves of kamani are large, stiff, shiny, leathery and oblong with a blunt tip. They are 3-8 inches long, arranged opposite each other and have closely placed fine parallel veins running from a prominent raised yellow-green midrib to the leaf margin.
When new the delightfully fragrant flowers are small, 1 inch wide, and white with 4-8 petals. They are waxy and showy with golden yellow stamens and a pink pistil, and grow in clusters of a dozen or so flowers found hanging from a long stalk. The small, white fragrant flowers which sparkle like stars against the dark green leaves begin to open at 3-4 am and are wide open at sunrise. The fragrance attracts a wide variety of pollinating insects. The fruit begins pinkish-green, rounds out to about 2 inches long and becomes bright green. When mature, it has a thin leathery dark grey-brownish skin, which covers a bony shell that holds a partly poisonous kernel or seed surrounded by a cork-like substance. The kernel is called a "punnai nut" in some areas of the Pacific, and the oil is dark, green, thick and called "dilo oil" or "huile de tamanu". The tree can tolerate full strength seawater and grows along the seashore.
(Dweck, A. C. and Meadows, T. 2002. Tamanu, Calophyllum inophyllum-the African, Asian, Polynesian and Pacific Panacea.)
(Polunin, I. Plants and Flowers of Singapore. 1987.)
(Corner, E. J. H. Wayside Trees of Malaya. 1997.)

In Java, the tree is believed to have diuretic properties.
The gum extracted from the plant is emetic and purgative and is used for the treatment of wounds and ulcers. An infusion of gum, bark and leaves is used for sore eyes.
The resin may be useful for chronic catarrh.
The bark is astringent and it is used in Asia and India for orchitis. It acts as an antiseptic and disinfectant and it is also used for internal haemorrhages and gonorrhoea. Taken internally, the bark acts as expectorant and it is useful in chronic bronchitis.
The leaves soaked in water are applied to inflamed eyes in Fiji and Linga. The leaf infusion is taken internally for heatstroke.
In Cambodia, the leaves are prescribed as an inhalation for migraine and vertigo and the oil for scabies.
The plant has a rich history of use. Ancient native black tribes throughout Papua New Guinea utilized the leves frequently for different kinds of skin problems. The natives in New Caledonia and Samoa use the leaves for different skin inflammations, leg ulcers and wounds.
An infusion of the fruit is said to be pectoral and stimulant of the mucous membrane of the lungs. The seed oil is used to sooth skin inflammations and insect bites.
(Dweck, A. C. and Meadows, T. 2002. Tamanu, Calophyllum inophyllum-the African, Asian, Polynesian and Pacific Panacea.)

In Samoa, every part of the plant is considered a virulent poison, with the milky juice causing blindness, and the sap once inttroduced into the circulation causing death (so it is used as an arrow poison).
The mature fruit is sufficiently poisonous to be ground and used as rat bait.
(Dweck, A. C. and Meadows, T. 2002. Tamanu, Calophyllum inophyllum-the African, Asian, Polynesian and Pacific Panacea.)

In Malaysia the wood is used for making boat masts. It is also made into planks. In Singapore, the beautiful tree is planted as a wayside tree.
In Hawaii the wood of kamani was used to make many objects including canoes, homes, 'umeke la'au, wooden containers or calabash, specifically 'umeke kamani, food bowls and trays called pa kamani. As with milo and kou wood, there is no bad-tasting taste or odor in kamani wood, so it is perfect for vessels that will be contacting or containing food.
The flowers were used to give fragrance to kapa cloth, and also for lei making. A lamp oil for light was produced from the kernel and was used at times instead of kukui nut oil. The oil can also be used to make soap. The kernel is called a "punnai nut" in some areas of the Pacific, and the oil is dark, green, thick and called "dilo oil" or "huile de tamanu". Sometimes this oil is useful for lomi lomi, massage, especially when enhanced with coconut oil or flower fragrances. The oil may have been useful in waterproofing tapa cloth. In the old days an extract from the fruit was used to make a brown dye to color tapa cloth.
Kamani was often planted around heiau, temples. Kamani was mentioned in early chants, and considered a sacred tree in parts of Polynesia. An especially fine grove is to be found on the island of Moloka'i.
(Dweck, A. C. and Meadows, T. 2002. Tamanu, Calophyllum inophyllum-the African, Asian, Polynesian and Pacific Panacea.)
(Polunin, I. Plants and Flowers of Singapore. 1987.)
(Corner, E. J. H. Wayside Trees of Malaya. 1997.)

(Information for this species compiled and recorded by Camelia Cirnaru, NTBG Consultant.)

Alexandrian Laurel is a native of the Pacific and Tropical Asia.
Its geographical distribution includes Melanesia and Polynesia.
It also grows near the sea coast throughout India.
The species was brought north to Hawai'i from the South Pacific islands in early migrations of Polynesian settlers.
(Dweck, A. C. and Meadows, T. 2002. Tamanu, Calophyllum inophyllum-the African, Asian, Polynesian and Pacific Panacea.)
(Polunin, I. Plants and Flowers of Singapore. 1987.)
(Corner, E. J. H. Wayside Trees of Malaya. 1997.)

Only the endosperm of the still immature fruit is safe to eat.
(Dweck, A. C. and Meadows, T. 2002. Tamanu, Calophyllum inophyllum-the African, Asian, Polynesian and Pacific Panacea.)

True kamani, Calophyllum inophyllum is not to be confused with "false kamani", a common tropical almond that grows profusely along the shores of Hawaii. This false kamani or "kamani haole" was introduced after the first white settlers arrived, and has the scientific name of Teminalia catappa. It was planted for shade and as an ornamental, also growing from the edible seed in its corky pod that washes ashore with waves and currents.
(Dweck, A. C. and Meadows, T. 2002. Tamanu, Calophyllum inophyllum-the African, Asian, Polynesian and Pacific Panacea.)
(Polunin, I. Plants and Flowers of Singapore. 1987.)
(Corner, E. J. H. Wayside Trees of Malaya. 1997.)

We currently have 40 herbarium specimens for Calophyllum inophyllum in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.

• 052937 - collected by P. Raynor in Unknown
• 030270 - collected by J. Remy in Unknown
• 018184 - collected by Masahiko Takamatsu in 1936
• 051316 - collected by F. R. Fosberg in 1946
• 058869 - collected by C. R. Long in 1965
• 085902 - collected by Art Whistler in 1970
• 085937 - collected by Art Whistler in 1972
• 030938 - collected by Derral Herbst in 1972
• 085901 - collected by Art Whistler in 1973
• 004691 - collected by W. M. Bush in 1975
• 085936 - collected by Art Whistler in 1975
• 085900 - collected by Art Whistler in 1975
• 058870 - collected by Art Whistler in 1985
• 058871 - collected by Art Whistler in 1985
• 004690 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
• 023684 - collected by Art Whistler in 1995
• 021913 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1995
• 021692 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1996
• 021084 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1996
• 024635 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1997
• 030131 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1998
• 027664 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1998
• 091711 - collected by Art Whistler in 1998
• 041416 - collected by Liloa Dunn in 2002
• Unassigned - collected by Liloa Dunn in 2002
• 039739 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2003
• 039832 - collected by Liloa Dunn in 2003
• 040402 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2003
• 039883 - collected by Liloa Dunn in 2003
• 043865 - collected by E. Albert Amor in 2004
• 042443 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2004
• 047068 - collected by Tim Flynn in 2004
• S046547 - collected by Tim Flynn in 2005
• 054615 - collected by P. Emos Eperiam in 2006
• 054939 - collected by Michael J. Balick in 2006
• 051197 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2007
• 085969 - collected by David E. Brussell in 2008
• 052966 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2008
• 049804 - collected by Nancy Vander Velde in 2009
• 092131 - collected by Nancy Vander Velde in 2009