Canarium vulgare Leenh.

A large tree up to 45 m tall, bole often gnarled in cultivated specimens, branchless for up to 20 m, up to 70 cm in diameter, buttresses up to 3 m high, bark surface pale greyish, inner bark exuding clear or whitish resin; stipules caducous, inserted at the leaf axil, oblong. Leaves with (5-)9-11 leaflets, leaflets gradually to distinctly long-acuminate at apex, margin entire, glabrous, with 12-15 pairs of secondary veins which are slightly prominent below. Inflorescence terminal, broadly paniculate; male flowers 5 mm long, female ones 6-7(-12) mm long, stamens 6. Fruit ovoid, circular to slightly trigonous in cross-section, 35-50 mm x 15-30 mm, glabrous.

Flowering and fruiting of C. vulgare occurs throughout the year in West Java; fruits are ripe in February-March and October. Pollination is probably effected by insects. The fruits are dispersed by fruit-eating pigeons and monkeys, and are occasionally eaten and dispersed by bats.

C. vulgare occurs locally gregariously in primary forest on limestone or in rather dry rain forest.

The Kangean and Bawean Islands, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Sulawesi, the Moluccas and New Guinea. Possibly naturalized elsewhere in the Malesian region. Planted throughout the tropics for its fruits.

It can be propagated by seed and seedlings may be prepared as stumps before planting. The fruits can be collected from the ground and the pulp needs to be removed to make germination possible. Germination can be hastened by nicking the end of the stone, slightly cracking it and soaking in cold or hot water. Air-dry seed can be stored without temperature control for several months up to 1.5 years, without losing its viability. C. vulgare stones have 85% viability.

There are about 145 dry stones (each stone containing 1-2 seeds) of C. vulgare per kg.

Shade or shelter: Trees are planted for shade in nutmeg plantations, and along roadsides.

Food: The seeds are highly valued as a snack, and are sometimes used as a substitute for almonds. The oil from the seeds has been used as a substitute for coconut oil. Gum or resin: The resin is suitable for varnish and caulking boats. Medicine: The resin is used medicinally as a balsam. Timber: The wood is used as kedondong, also for making canoes. Paddles have been manufactured from the buttresses.