''Barringtonia edulis'' is a species of tree with edible fruits from the southwestern Pacific region, being found on

Fiji Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...

and Vanuatu. Common names include cut nut, pao nut, boxfruit tree, heart tree, and yum-yum tree. In Fiji, it is known as ''vutu'' (also used for '' Barringtonia asiatica''), ''vutukala'', ''kutuvala'' and ''vana''.

Description

''Barringtonia edulis'' is a little-branched evergreen tree growing to a height of about . The trunk is up to in diameter and has smooth, greyish-brown bark. The large, glossy green leaves grow in clusters at the ends of the branches. They have short petioles and are up to long and broad. The leaf blades are simple, oblong-elliptical and entire, with slightly undulating margins, prominent veins and acute apexes. The inflorescence is a terminal, dangling

raceme A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...

up to long. The central rachis bears a spiral arrangement of small, closely-packed tubular flowers with globose, reddish-brown calyces tipped by two to four red lobes, four squarish white petals, a projecting boss of stamens and a single, long style. The fruits are oblong berries with persistent calyces, up to long, with densely matted short hairs, greyish-green, becoming reddish or purplish as they ripen.

Distribution and habitat

''Barringtonia edulis'' is endemic to Fiji and Vanuatu. It grows in humid forests near the coast, at altitudes below . It also occurs beside roads and footpaths and near habitations, and is cultivated in gardens for its attractive glossy foliage and edible fruits.

Ecology

The flowers of ''Barringtonia edulis'' are pollinated by moths and bats. The tree is

host A host is a person responsible for guests at an event or for providing hospitality during it. Host may also refer to: Places * Host, Pennsylvania, a village in Berks County People *Jim Host (born 1937), American businessman * Michel Host ...

to several species of fruit fly including the oriental fruit fly ('' Bactrocera dorsalis''), the Pacific fruit fly ('' Bactrocera xanthodes''), and the Fijian fruit fly ('' Bactrocera passiflorae'').

Uses

The fruits can be eaten, raw or cooked, but are said to be insipid. The seeds are also edible, the flavour resembling peanuts. The

bark Bark may refer to: * Bark (botany), an outer layer of a woody plant such as a tree or stick * Bark (sound), a vocalization of some animals (which is commonly the dog) Places * Bark, Germany * Bark, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland Arts, ...

is used in traditional medicine, to treat stomach problems and gonorrhoea, and to induce an abortion. The wood is light and makes fast-burning firewood. The timber is used for light construction, casing and for making canoe paddles.

References

{{taxonbar, from=Q15390823

edulis Edulis, edible in Latin, is a species name present in a number of Latin species names: * '' Acioa edulis'', the Castanha-de-cutia, a fruit and timber tree species * '' Aglaia edulis'', a plant species found in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indon ...

Plants described in 1866