Tamanu

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Alexandrian Laurel
• Beach Calophyllum
• Beautyleaf
• Borneo Mahogany
• Mastwood
• Alexandrian-laurel
• Borneo-mahogany
• Indian doomba oiltree
• Indian-laurel
• balltree
• beach touriga
• laurelwood
• satin touriga
• tacamahac-tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Calophyllum wakamatsui
• Balsamaria inophyllum
• Calophyllum inophyllum f. oblongata
• Calophyllum inophyllum f. obovata
• Calophyllum inophyllum var. takamaka
• Calophyllum inophyllum var. wakamatsui
• Calophyllum blumei
• Calophyllum bintagor

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales, it is positioned in the family Calophyllaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Calophyllum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern primarily concentrated within the tropical regions of Africa. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in Gambia, Guinea, and Ivory Coast. The species also extends into the West-Central Tropical Africa zone. Within this central region, it can be found growing in Cameroon and Congo. Consequently, its geographical range spans across several diverse nations within the western and central tropical belts.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Calophyllum inophyllum is characterized by its specialized adaptation to coastal environments, where it is frequently found thriving within coastal thickets. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1550 m AMSL. While it is capable of ascending significant heights, its ecological preference is centered at much lower altitudes, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 80 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1550 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

80 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

coastal thickets

Genetics

The genetics of Calophyllum inophyllum are characterized by a specific chromosomal arrangement that defines its cytological profile. The species possesses a chromosome number of 32, which serves as a fundamental genetic marker for the taxon. Furthermore, the plant is classified as having a diploid ploidy level of 2, indicating that its somatic cells contain two complete sets of chromosomes. This stable diploid genome provides the genetic basis for the plant's inheritance patterns and its physiological development.

Chromosome number :

32

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Calophyllum inophyllum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring long-term survival and stability within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody branches, a structural adaptation that allows it to thrive as a tree in various coastal and tropical environments. The plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its lush foliage throughout the year, providing continuous photosynthetic activity and dense canopy cover. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and a phanerophyte life form enables the species to establish a permanent and robust presence in its habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Calophyllum inophyllum is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. It is a self-supporting plant that functions independently, rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, the species exhibits significant vertical variability, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 5 m to a maximum of 25 m, resulting in an average height of approximately 11.83 m. As a self-supporting woody structure, it does not exhibit climbing habits such as liana or vine growth, instead establishing a sturdy, upright presence in its natural habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

25 m

Plant height mean:

11.8333333333333 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Calophyllum inophyllum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure features leaves that typically exhibit a mean length of 11.5 cm, with individual leaf dimensions ranging from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 20 cm. These leaves possess a width that varies between a minimum of 4 cm and a maximum of 9 cm. Regarding water storage and tissue composition, the species does not exhibit succulence, maintaining a standard leaf structure rather than specialized water-storing tissues. In terms of structural integrity and wood properties, the plant demonstrates a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 660 mg/cm³. Additionally, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on available soil nitrogen rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

11.5 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

9 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

660 mg/cm³

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Calophyllum inophyllum is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome primarily driven by insects. The plant produces white flowers that vary in length, ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 6 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fleshy fruits that contain seeds with diverse physical dimensions. The seeds exhibit a length between 20 mm and 25 mm and a width ranging from 20 mm to 25 mm, resulting in a consistent seed volume of approximately 7900 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds are quite variable, with a minimum mass of approximately 0.042 g, a mean mass of roughly 1.75 g, and a maximum mass reaching up to 4.717 g. Dispersal is achieved through a hydrochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are specialized for dispersal by water, a trait well-suited to its coastal or riparian habitats.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower length max:

6 cm

Flower length min:

2 cm

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

25 mm

Seed length min:

20 mm

Seed mass max:

4.717 g

Seed mass mean:

1.7496216665 g

Seed mass min:

0.04202 g

Seed volume max:

7900 mm³

Seed width max:

25 mm

Seed width min:

20 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Calophyllum inophyllum has 3 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed, stem.

Leaf

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Molecular and cellular endocrinology
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Seed

1. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology

Stem

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Calophyllum inophyllum has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Calophyllolide, Amentoflavone, Calophyllic acid, Isocalophyllic acid, 2-Hydroxyxanthone.

Calophyllolide

1. PloS one
2. Journal of Asian natural products research
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Amentoflavone

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Calophyllic acid

1. Molecular and cellular endocrinology
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Isocalophyllic acid

1. Molecular and cellular endocrinology
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

2-Hydroxyxanthone

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

4-Hydroxyxanthone

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

4-phenylcoumarins

1. Cancer letters

6-Deoxyjacareubin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Canophyllic acid

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Jacareubin

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Activities

Calophyllum inophyllum has 21 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Anthelmintic, AntiHIV.

Antioxidant

1. Scientifica
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientifica

Antimicrobial

1. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology
2. Pharmaceutical biology

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Calophyllum inophyllum has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, wound healing, EBV, breast cancer, burns.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations