Kenari (Canarium indicum)

Kenari (Canarium indicum) is a plant species in the Burseraceae family. It is a dioecious, evergreen tree characterized by a large, dense crown and a cylindrical trunk that can reach a height of 45 meters and a diameter of 1 meter, with a sympodial branching pattern. The tree develops buttress roots that can grow several meters high, and its bark is layered. The trunk grows at a rate of 2.8 meters in height and 3 centimeters in diameter per year.

The outer bark is gray, brownish-gray, or yellowish-brown, with a texture ranging from smooth to scaly and spotted. The inner bark is reddish-brown to pinkish-brown and exudes a milky sap.

The leaves are compound, imparipinnate, and arranged spirally, consisting of 7–15 leaflets positioned opposite one another. The leaflets are oblong, measuring 12–36 cm in length and 4.4–21 cm in width. The base of each leaflet is rounded and slightly asymmetrical, the apex is acuminate, the margin is entire (smooth), and the surface is glabrous; the petiole is 9 cm long. The stipules are ovate to oblong, persistent, large, and feature distinct, toothed margins; they are rarely found attached to the leaf petiole.

The inflorescences are terminal or axillary, forming broad panicles 15–30 cm in length. The flowers are numerous, creamy-white, and 3-merous. Male flowers are 10 mm long with 6 stamens, while female flowers are 15 mm long.

The fruits grow in clusters of 6–12. They are drupes—ovoid in shape, 35–60 mm long, 15–30 mm wide, and have a smooth (glabrous) surface. The endocarp is hard, thin, and brittle, with a cross-section that ranges from round to somewhat triangular. The seed accounts for 15% of the fruit's total weight. The seeds are 3.5 cm long and 2 cm wide; they contain oil, and their cotyledons are palmatifid to foliolate, folded in various patterns.

A mature tree can produce at least 100 kg of fruit per year when grown in an open area. Under plantation conditions, the yield reaches 7,700 kg of fruit per hectare annually.

C. indicum grows in humid, tropical, and subtropical regions with an average annual temperature of 15–32°C, at elevations ranging from 0 to 600 meters, and with an average annual rainfall of 1,800–6,000 mm. It is resistant to strong winds and exposure to sea spray.

The seeds are consumed raw or roasted as a dessert, after the testa (seed coat) has been removed. Oil extracted from fresh seeds is used as an ingredient in food. The seeds contain 70–80% oil, 13% protein, and 7% starch. Young leaves are edible and used in salads.

The wood, which is rich in resin and has a soft texture, is excellent as firewood. The hard, stone-like seed shells serve as a highly effective fuel. The wood has a density of 500–650 kg/m³ at a 12% moisture content and is used for light construction, molding, house framing, and interior finishing. The trees are also used for shade or as windbreaks, and are planted along roadsides or as property boundaries.

Oil from the seeds is used for cooking and as fuel for lamps. It can also be refined for use in the production of perfumes and cosmetics. The bark is used to treat vomiting, while young leaves are used to remedy scabies and ciguatera poisoning. A yellow, lemon-scented resin is used as an ingredient in the preparation of plasters and ointments.

TAXON

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Sapindales
Family: Burseraceae
Genus: Canarium L. in Herb. Amb.: 9 (1754)
Species: Canarium indicum L. in Amoen. Acad. 4: 143 (1759)
Variety: Canarium indicum var. indicum, Canarium indicum var. platycerioideum Leenh.

PUBLICATIONS

Baksh-Comeau, Y., Maharaj, S.S., Adams, C.D., Harris, S.A., Filer, D.L. & Hawthorne, W.D. (2016). An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Trinidad and Tobago with analysis of vegetation types and botanical 'hotspots'. Phytotaxa 250: 1-431.

Fosberg, F.R., Sachet, M.-H., Oliver, R. (1979). A geographical checklist of the Micronesian Dicotyledonae. Micronesica; Journal of the College of Guam 15: 41-295.

Govaerts, R. (1999). World Checklist of Seed Plants 3(1, 2a & 2b): 1-1532. MIM, Deurne.

Plunkett, G.M., Ranker, T.A., Sam, C. & Balick, M.J. (2022). Towards a checklist of the vascular flora of Vanuatu. Candollea 77: 105-118.

VERNACULAR NAME

Ambon: Jal
Czech: Kanárník obecný
English: Kenari, Java almond
Finnish: Manilanelemi
French: Noyer de Nangaille
Indonesia: Kenari, Kenari biasa
Java: Kenari
Lithuanian: Indinis kanaris
Maluku: Kanari bagéa
PNG: Galip, Lawele, Hinuei
Russian: Канариум индийский
Slovak: Kanárium obyčajné
Sunda: Kenari ambon

Aryo Bandoro
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