Pili nut tree - Canarium ovatum

Description and Uses

Canarium ovatum (Pili nut tree) is a tropical tree from Malaysia & Indonesia. It is mainly grown for its nut crops (long shelflife), but also Other uses include; edible leave shoot, fruit, fuel, gum resin, medicinal, nut, oil and ornamental can be produced. The crop is harvested by ground gathering. It starts flowering after 5 - 7 years. The first yield will be 40 kg/tree/year but in its top season there will be a yield of 140 kg/tree. Array. Medical uses include; it is medically used as anti-arthritic activity. The seed/nut contains Manganese (2.3 mg - 2.32 mg). There is pili oil extracted by expeller pressing from the tree`s seed/nut yielding 70% - 80% oil. The tree`s wood is called pili wood and has a density of 420 - 600 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree`s growing speed is medium, its energetic value is 4600 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is medium; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 80 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Canarium ovatum has a lifespan of 500 years.

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Environmental limitations

The tree is 20 meters tall. It is medium growing and tolerates not less light than partial shade. Canarium ovatum has a shallow root-system and forms symbiotic relations Glomus hoi,Glomus intraradices,Glomus mosseae (endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The tree`s flower-morphology is hermaphroditic and is pollinated by insects. Canarium ovatum is evergreen and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Canarium ovatum thrives in an altitude of 0 to 500 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is 0°C and optimally between 24 - 32°C. The optimal rainfall is 3900 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 1400 - 5000 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 5.0 - 7.0 in a soil texture of loam. To salt it is intolerant to wind tolerant and to fire intolerant.

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Pests and Diseases

has no pests and to Angular leaf spot as disease diseases.

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Seed Propagation

Seeds are recalcitrant and can be stored for 1 months. There are approximative 600 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed: (1) Store harvested seeds in water or in the fruit at room temperature, (3) Remove the seeds from cold to a permanent warm temperature., (3) Seeds germinate above ground (epigeous)

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