Cordia orientalis R.Br.

A small to medium-sized tree up to 20 m tall, bole often crooked, branchless for up to 8 m, up to 70 cm in diameter, bark shallowly fissured and flaky, brown or grey; corolla 3-4.3 cm long, orange, with 6 or 7 lobes. Fruit tightly enclosed in an enlarged calyx. A nut in C. subcordata, mesocarp watery or glutinous. The larger boles often develop heart rot.

C. subcordata plants of 3 years old may already produce fruits. The fruits of this species are probably dispersed by ocean currents; they have a hard stone and corky tissue.

C. subcordata is fairly common in secondary forest and thickets along the sea shore. It is suited for planting on sandy soils and can grow well in subhumid climates.

In Malaysia, seeds of this species are reported to take 19-62 days to germinate, with about 25% of the seeds being viable. However, data from Indonesia show that viability may be as high as 90-100%, but seed collected from the ground showed 40-50% germination. Storage under ambient conditions reduces the viability from 60% initially to 40% after 7 months. It is recommended to sow the seeds 1.5-2 cm deep, pointing downwards. Seedlings should be watered sparingly.

Plantation: In Indonesia, a spacing of 2.5 m x 1 m and 2.5 m x 3 m has been used. Young plants are not very shade tolerant but can develop reasonably well under light conditions above 30% relative light intensity. Trees grow fast on moderately fertile and well-drained sites. It has been reported from Buru (Indonesia) that young plants of C. subcordata can reach a height of 1.1-1.5 m 10 months after planting on good sites. In East Java trees were 4-5 m tall in a 2-year-old plantation and on average 7 m tall after 4 years with an average diameter of 6.5 cm. In C. subcordata heavy branches often develop low on the stem and form a wide spreading crown. The stem is often crooked, slanting or appears twisted.

There are 560-700 seeds of C. subcordata in one kg.

Ornamental: The tree is also planted in gardens and is especially suitable for courts.

Food: In Polynesia, young leaves are sometimes chewed together with betel nut. Fuel: It is used for fuel in the Solomon Islands. Timber: The wood is used for light construction, beams and posts, wharves, cabinets, furniture, musical instruments, scabbards, tools, carvings, and fancy articles; also for veneer.