Canarium vitiense A.Gray

Gray, A. (1854) United States Exploring Expedition (Wilkes Expedition) Botany. Phanerogamia 1: 373. Type: Mathuata, Vanua Levu, Fiji, 1838-1842 Wilkes Exped. s.n.; holo: GH; iso: K, P. Fide P. W. Leenhouts, Blumea 9:451 (1959).

Canarium

Bark exudate turning pale brown on exposure. Blaze finely layered. Bark rather hard and horny to cut.

Stalk of the terminal leaflet longer than those of the lateral leaflets. Pulvinus normally present on the terminal leaflet, sometimes also on the lateral leaflets. Stipules long and narrow, about 5-9 x 0.5-1 mm. Leaflet blades about 11-19 x 6-7 cm. Twigs rather pithy. Scattered pores visible with a lens over nearly all of the transverse section of the pith.

Inflorescence up to 12 cm long. Petals about 5-6 mm long.

Fruits about 17-30 mm long. Cotyledons 3-lobed.

Cotyledons trifoliolate, leaflets about 45-50 mm long, petiole hairy on the upper surface. First pair of leaves not toothed. At the tenth leaf stage: a few scattered hairs on the stem, petiole and rhachis; terminal bud densely hairy; stipules short, hairy. Seed germination time 30 to 73 days.

Widespread in CYP and NEQ as far south as Hinchinbrook Island. Altitudinal range small, from near sea level to about 100 m. Usually grows in well developed lowland rain forest. Also occurs in New Guinea and Fiji.

This species may have medicinal properties.