Calophyllum inophyllum L., Clusiaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate; score: 6 (Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment for Calophyllum inophyllum)

Other Latin names:  Balsamaria inophyllum Lour.; Calophyllum apetalum Blanco; Calophyllum bingator Roxb.; Calophyllum blumei Wight; Calophyllum ovatifolium noronha; Calophyllum spurium Choisy; Calophyllum wakamatsui Kaneh.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chuukese: ráguch, rákir, rakich, rekich

English: Alexandrian laurel, Alexandrian-laurel, beach mahogany, portia tree

Hawaiian: kamani, kamanu

Kosraean: itu

Niuean: fetau

Palauan: btaes

Pohnpeian: isou, isyo, lipas, mokil, ruckiss, sepang

Samoan: fetau, tamanu, tefau

Tongan: feta'u, tamanu

Ulithian: f&omacron;t&omacron;i

Unknown: dilo, feta'u, fetau, tamanu, te itai

Woleaian: ragïaut;ch

Yapese: biyuuch, fitus, ragich, ragick, ragitr, ragu&emacron;s, ravich, revich, sevan, sevang, vitou

Habit:  tree

Description:  In Tonga: "Medium to large, hard-wooded tree. Leaves simple, opposite, oval, subobovate or subovate, apex rounded, obtuse, sometimes emarginate or acutish, the base acute, up to 15 cm. or more long and 8 cm. wide, entire, leathery, glossy, pinnately nerved, midrib stout, lateral nerves fine, very numerous, parallel, petioles 1-2 cm. long, stout, canaliculate. Flowers about 2 cm. in width, in axillary, racemose clusters, corolla waxy white, stamens numerous; fruit globose, about 3-4 cm. in diameter, flesh thin, one-seeded." (Plants of Tonga, p. 187)

"Tree 20-60' tall; trunk usu leaning; sap yellow, sticky. Lf peti 0.4-1" long; blades elliptic, ovate, obovate, or oblong, 3.25-8" x 1.75-4.5", deep glossy green, leathery, base wedge-shaped to rounded, margins ±rolled under, apex ±rounded. Infl axillary, usu 5-15 flwd. Flws bisexual, ca 0.75-1" ⌀,
fragrant; tep usu 8, white, hooded; stam ca 200-350; stigma shield-shaped, 3-5 rayed. Frt ±globose, 1-2" ⌀, indehiscent, grayish brown, eroding, stone hard." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 237)

"Tree 15–30 m. high, usually with a short trunk and long branches; bark pale grey and fawn with shallow elliptic longitudinal fissures; branches smooth, tetragonal when young, eventually cylindric. Leaves petiolate; lamina (8) 10 × (4–5) 5–10 cm., coriaceous, concolorous, broadly elliptic-oblong to obovate, rounded or shallowly emarginate at the apex, often with undulate margin, broadly cuneate at the base, with lateral nerves prominent on both surfaces; petiole 10–15 mm. long, broadened and flattened towards the apex. Inflorescences 7–8 cm. long, racemose, lax, 3–12-flowered, in the axils of the upper leaves. Flower-buds 7–9 mm. in diam., globose. Flowers pedicellate; pedicels 1·5–4 cm. long, spreading to ascending. Sepals 4, reflexed, deciduous, outer ones c. 7–8 mm. long, orbicular, inner ones c. 10 mm. long, obovate, ± petaloid, rounded at the apex. Petals 4, 9–12 mm. long, obovoid, narrower than the inner sepals, reflexed, deciduous. Stamens in 4 fascicles, ?, orange, equal to or rather shorter than the petals; anthers c. 1·5 mm. long, narrowly oblong. Ovary deep pink, globose; style c. 4 times as long as the ovary, scarcely exceeding the stamens, flexuous. Drupe c. 2·5–4 cm. in diam. when ripe, green, globose, smooth, with thick pericarp." (Flora Zambesiaca)

Habitat/ecology:  "The slow-growing [Calophyllum inophyllum] is naturally adapted to sandy soild, salt exposure (in both soil and air), and intense sunlight. It grows in any fertile, permeable soil and does well in partial shade." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 237)

"Rocky and sandy sea-shores." (Flora Zambesiaca)

In Palau, flowers observed in May and September-November; fruits observed September-November. (Forests of Palau)

In Tonga, "in thicket near beach"; "in forest near center of island"; "near beach along southern end of island"; "coastal forest, alt. 10 m."; "[f]requent along the lower terraces and throughout Tonga." (Plants of Tonga, p. 187)

Propagation:  On Niue, note Sykes' observation of "persistent cultivation relics, and as the seed was probably not deliberately sown they can be considered semi-adventive." (Sykes, 1970, p. 64)

Native range:  "Calophyllum inophyllum is native to tropical seacosts from eastern Africa and Madagascar across the Indian Ocean to India, Sri Lanka, all of Southeast Asia, northern Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, the Philippines, and across the western Pacific¹³⁹⁶." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 237)

"C[alophyllum] inophyllum appears to be native in Madagascar and the Mascarene Is. and therefore, although it is sometimes grown as a source of oil for pharmaceutical purposes ('Alexandrian Laurel'), there seems every probability that it is indigenous in at least some of its stations along the east coast of the African mainland and on the off-shore islands." (Flora Zambesiaca)

"Indigenous to coastal areas from tropical Africa to eastern Polynesia." (Sykes, 1970, p. 100)

See also: Hortipedia; IUCN Red List; Midway Atoll Vascular Plant Checklista, p. 42; and Agroforestry Guides for Pacific Islands, p. 51.

Impacts and invaded habitats:  (no invaded habitats or impacts known by PIER; please let us know if you know of such information we should add here)

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (pp. 14, 45) Vouchers cited: Garber 704; Yuncker 9194
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Northern Mariana Islands	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Cook Islands Cook Islands	Cook Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Cook Islands Cook Islands	Cook Islands	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Chuuk Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Dublon (Tonowas) Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Lele Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Dagamanga Islet		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Deake Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqa) Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Fiji Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Fiji Islands	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
French Polynesia French Polynesia Islands	French Polynesia Islands	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Agakauitai Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Tuamotu Islands	native	Wagner, W. L./Herbst, D. R./Lorence, D. H. (year unknown) accessed 20180710, "...Malesia to Australia and the Tuamotus."
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced cultivated abo. intro.	Wagner, W. L./Herbst, D. R./Lorence, D. H. (year unknown) accessed 20180710, "A Polynesian introduction, now occasionally cultivated."
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced cultivated abo. intro.	Wagner, W. L./Herbst, D. R./Lorence, D. H. (year unknown) accessed 20180710, "A Polynesian introduction, now occasionally cultivated."
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced cultivated abo. intro.	Wagner, W. L./Herbst, D. R./Lorence, D. H. (year unknown) accessed 20180710, "A Polynesian introduction, now occasionally cultivated."
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced cultivated abo. intro.	Wagner, W. L./Herbst, D. R./Lorence, D. H. (year unknown) accessed 20180710, "A Polynesian introduction, now occasionally cultivated."
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced cultivated abo. intro.	Wagner, W. L./Herbst, D. R./Lorence, D. H. (year unknown) accessed 20180710, "A Polynesian introduction, now occasionally cultivated."
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced cultivated abo. intro.	Wagner, W. L./Herbst, D. R./Lorence, D. H. (year unknown) accessed 20180710, "A Polynesian introduction, now occasionally cultivated."
Kiribati Kiribati	Kiribati (Republic of)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Marshall Islands Marshall Islands	Bigatyeland Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Marshall Islands Marshall Islands	Marshall Islands	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Bikini (Pikinni) Atoll		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Niue Niue	Niue Island		Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 100) Vouchers cited: CHR 168833 (Fr.); CHR 168834; CHR 168835 (Fr.); "Indigenous to coastal areas from tropical Africa to eastern Polynesia." (Sykes, 1970, p. 100); so does this imply that it's native to Niue?? -pt/20171202
Niue Niue	Niue Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Pacific Oceania	Micronesia	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Pacific Pacific	Malaya		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 187)
Pacific Pacific	Polynesia		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 187)
Pacific Pacific	Polynesia	native	Whistler, W. A. (1984) (p. 40) "...the wide-ranging littoral tree Calophyllum inophyllum"
Palau Hatohobei Group	Hatohobei (islands)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Hatohobei Group	Helen Reef		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Kayangel Atoll	Kayangel Islet		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	native cultivated	Kitalong, Ann Hillmann (2008) (pp. 16-18, 20, 24) In Palau, flowers observed in May and September-November; fruits observed September-November.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Palau Islands (main island group)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Palau Islands (main island group)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Palau Sonsorol Group	Merir Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Sonsorol Group	Sonsorol Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)		PNGTreesKey (year unknown) Cites specimen[s]: P.F. Stevens LAE 54724, 27 Nov 1971 (LAE 142467), web page accessed 20171209.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Samoa Samoa	Samoa		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Samoa Samoa	Samoa	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 187) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15792
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 187) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 15326; Yuncker 15638
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 187) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15024
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Niuafo‘ou Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 187) Voucher cited: Hüaut;rlimann 652
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 187) Source: Crosby
Tuvalu Tuvalu (Ellis) Islands	Nanumea Atoll		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Johnston Atoll	Johnston Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Aneityum Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Ramon, Laurence/Sam, Chanel (2015) (p. 52)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Futuna Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Asia Asia	Myanmar	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Asia Asia (Pacific rim)	Malesia	native	Wagner, W. L./Herbst, D. R./Lorence, D. H. (year unknown) accessed 20180710, "...Malesia to Australia and the Tuamotus."
Australia Australia	Australia	native	Wagner, W. L./Herbst, D. R./Lorence, D. H. (year unknown) accessed 20180710, "...Malesia to Australia and the Tuamotus."
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Japan Japan	Japan	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	Wagner, W. L./Herbst, D. R./Lorence, D. H. (year unknown) accessed 20180710
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka	Sri Lanka	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Africa Africa	Africa	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180710, see ref. for details (e.g., countries), "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
Africa Africa	Africa (eastern)		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 187)
Africa Africa	Africa (eastern)	native	Wagner, W. L./Herbst, D. R./Lorence, D. H. (year unknown) accessed 20180710
India India	India (Republic of)		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 187)
India India	India (Republic of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 21080710, "Cultivated (also cult.) Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)"
India India	India (Republic of)	native	Wagner, W. L./Herbst, D. R./Lorence, D. H. (year unknown) accessed 20180710

Comments:  Present in Hawaii (Alien plant invasions in native ecosystems in Hawaii, p. 102; p. 104; p. 135; p. 729; Midway Atoll Vascular Plant Checklist, p. 42; A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 237). Present on Nauru (Alien plant invasions in native ecosystems in Hawaii, p. 616).

On Niue, note Sykes' observation of "persistent cultivation relics, and as the seed was probably not deliberately sown they can be considered semi-adventive." (Sykes, 1970, p. 64)

used/recommended as a "multipurpose species" in Pacific islands (Agroforestry Guides for Pacific Islands, p. 41); used for agroforestry in Federated States of Micronesia, Hawaii, and the Marshall Islands (Agroforestry Guides for Pacific Islands, p. 86)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Calophyllum inophyllum, please let us know.