Inocarpus fagifer
| Inocarpus fagifer | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Tribe: | Dalbergieae |
| Genus: | Inocarpus |
| Species: | I. fagifer |
| Binomial name | |
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Inocarpus fagifer (Parkinson ex Zollinger) Fosberg |
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| Synonyms | |
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Inocarpus fagifer, commonly known as the Tahitian chestnut, Polynesian chestnut, aila or mape tree, is a species of flowering plant in the subfamily Faboideae of the legume family, Fabaceae. The tree has a wide range in the tropics of the south-west Pacific and south-east Asian regions, and a history of traditional use by the peoples of Polynesia and Melanesia. It is the only edible and culturally important member of the genus Inocarpus.
There is great diversity in the size, form, shape and colour of the Tahitian Chestnut, and of its leaves, flowers and fruit. Because of its long history of cultivation and its tendency to become naturalised where introduced, it is likely that, over its wide range, the species contains several originally farmer-selected cultivars that have not been recognised or described.
The Tahitian Chestnut is a medium-sized, evergreen tropical tree. It may grow to 30 m in height, though 20 m is more usual, with a crown diameter of 4–6 m. Mature tree trunks have a typical diameter at breast height of 300 mm, although some grow to a diameter of 900 mm. The trunks are distinctively buttressed at the base and fluted. The branches are arranged spirally, with secondary branching forming a dense network within the canopy. The bark is rough, flaky and brown, becoming greyer with age. From the buttresses a dense network of lateral roots extends through the topsoil around the tree, which has only a shallow taproot. It has a lifespan of 80–90 years.
The dark green leaves are simple, oblong, alternate, and leathery. They are 160–390 mm long and 70–130 mm wide. The petiole is 5 mm long. The apex is pointed and the base lobed, with an entire margin. The veins are opposite and yellow.
The fragrant flowers cluster along a short rachis at the ends of the branches and twigs. About 10 mm long, they have five white to cream or pale yellow petals. Trees begin flowering at 3–5 years old, with the flowering season usually taking place in November–December, and fruiting in the following January–February, though this varies through the tree’s range and from year to year.
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Wikipedia