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Aleurites moluccana

Authority(L)Willd
FamilyMagnoliopsida:Dilleniidae:Euphorbiales:Euphorbiaceae
SynonymsAleurites triloba Forst., Croton moluccanus L.
Common namesCandle nut, candlenut, lama, tuitui (Tonga)
Editor
Ecocrop code354



Notes
DESCRIPTION: It is a medium-sized tree, up to 20 m tall, with wide-spreading or pendulous branches. Bark grey-brown, fairly smooth with fine vertical lines. Fruit an indehiscent drupe, almost spherical, 5 cm or more in diameter. USES: Kernels when roasted and cooked are considered edible. Seed oil is suitable, with modification, for use as a substitute for diesel, the residues for conversion to alcohol or pyrolysis. In Uganda, it is planted as a backyard tree for firewood. Seeds are moderately poisonous. The oil cake, containing about 46% protein, is said to be poisonous. Bark, oil and kernels have medicinal properties. The tree is used as an ornamental and shade tree. Seed press cake is suitable as a fertilizer. GROWING PERIOD: Perennial. COMMON NAMES: belgaum walnut, candle nut oil tree, candleberry, Indian walnut, varnish tree (English). FURTHER INF.: Candlenut is native of Malaysia. It is found on hillside forests of the Pacific and Southeast Asia, where its pale, mealy foliage stands out from darker tropical vegetation. The tree thrives in moist tropical regions, ranging from subtropical dry to wet through tropical very dry to wet forest life zones.
Sources
Sims D (pers. comm.)
Roecklein J 1987 pp 338
Duke J 1975 pp 6 [PH, RAIN, TEMP]
Purseglove J 1974 pp 140 [USE]
ICRAF Agroforestree Database