Calophyllum (inophyllum)

Kim Wilkinson Craig Elevitch Permanent Agriculture Resources P.O. Box 428 Holualoa, Hawaii 96725 808-324-4427 808-324-4129 (fax) par@agroforestry.net www.agroforestry.net

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Family Scientific Name:	Clusiaceae
Family Common Name:	Mangosteen
Scientific Name:	Calophyllum inophyllum L.
Common Name:	Alexandrian laurel, portia tree, Borneo mahogany, beach mahogany; kamani (Hawaii); dilo (Fiji); feta'u (Tonga); fetau (Samoa); tamanu (Cooks; Societies; Marquesas); te itai (Kiribati)
Ecotype:	coastal to lowland (up to 200 m) tropical rainforest
General Distribution:	Native from east Africa to Australia and Malesia, now widely planted and naturalized throughout its range, including the south and central Pacific and the Caribbean Islands.
Known Invasiveness:	This species is widely introduced throughout other tropical regions of the world where it may be invasive in some areas and invasiveness outside its naturally occurring range is unknown.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Time To Grow:	0
Target Specifications:	Seedlings have reached target when their height is 25 cm, stem diameter 8 mm, roots well-formed.
Propagule Collection:	Flowering can occur throughout the year, however in most regions there are two distinct flowering periods, late sprint/early summer and late fall. The fruit is 2-4 cm in diameter and contains a single seed. The fruits are ripe when flesh is yellow or brown and wrinkled (not green and smooth). Fruits may be collected from the ground as late as a few weeks after maturing and dropping and still maintain viability.
Propagule Processing:	Shelled seeds may have a germination rate of 90% or more. Clean, unshelled seeds can be stored dry and cool for a few months and retain fair viability. There are 100-200 seeds per kg (including shell).
Pre-Planting Treatments:	After fruits are collected, they are soaked in water overnight to soften the outer skin. The outer skin is then removed, exposing the seed shell. No pretreatment is necessary, but it is recommended for uniform germination time. Without treatment seeds germinate slowly over a period of 2 months or longer. Cracking the shell with a mallet or hammer hastens germination to 6 - 10 weeks, and removing the shell entirely further reduces germination time to just 3 - 6 weeks.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Seedlings are grown in an uncovered growing area, although moderate shade during germination may be beneficial (first 4-6 weeks) in lowland or hot areas. Containers used are Andersen Band Pots 2 3/8" X 5", although copper coated poly bags of similar volume also work well. Any well-drained media works well for this species.
Establishment Phase:	Fresh and healthy shelled seeds may be sown directly in containers (minimum 6 mm in diameter). Shelled or unshelled seeds may also be sown in seed beds about 1-3 cm deep, and transplanted into containers as they sprout (at or before the two or four leaf stage). In hot lowland areas, moderate shade may be beneficial during germination and for the first 4-6 weeks.
Length of Establishment Phase:	4-6 weeks.
Active Growth Phase:	Seedlings should be moved into full sun 4 - 8 weeks after germination or transplanting into containers. Seedlings grow fairly rapidly and can achieve 30 cm in height 5 months from germination. Seedlings should be monitored for pests and diseases, although in the nursery these are uncommon. After about 10 weeks, seedlings are spaced as widely as possible (at least double-spacing) to prevent leaves from overlapping. After 12-16 weeks, in some cases, amending with additional fertilizer such as a light top dressing of Gro-More 8-8-8 will aid in growth and development. If any weeds enter the soil-free media, they should be removed.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	3-4 months
Hardening Phase:	Seedlings should receive at least 4 months of full sun prior to outplanting. During the final 4-6 weeks, watering frequency may be reduced to introduce seedlings to temporary, moderate water stress.
Length of Hardening Phase:	4-6 weeks.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	When seedlings have reached target size, they may be delivered to the planting site. They are not extracted from their container or stored before shipping. Keeping them in their container is necessary to protect the roots. Containers may be stood up in cardboard boxes, or delivered in trays. Seedlings must be protected from wind and excessive heat during transport, but refrigeration is not recommended. Empty containers and trays may be returned for cleaning and reuse after the planting is complete.
Length of Storage:	n/a
References:	Soerianegara, I., and R.H.M.J. Lemmens, Eds. 1994. Plant Resources of Southeast Asia No. 5(1): Timber Trees: Major Commercial Timbers. PROSEA, Bogor, Indonesia. Thaman, R.R., C.R. Elevitch and K.M. Wilkinson. 2000. "Multipurpose Trees for Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands. In: Elevitch, C.R. and K.M. Wilkinson. 2000. Agroforestry Guides for Pacific Islands. Permanent Agriculture Resources, Holualoa, HI. web: http://www.agroforestry.net Vozzo, J.A. (Ed). 2002. Tropical Tree Seed Manual. USDA Agriculture Handbook 721.

Citation:

Elevitch, Craig R.; Wilkinson, Kim M.. 2004. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Calophyllum inophyllum L. plants Permanent Agriculture Resources Holualoa, Hawaii. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/01). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.