Calophyllum inophyllum aka Indian Laurel

Calophyllum inophyllum is a tree that stays green year-round. Its common name is Alexandrian laurel. It belongs to the plant family Calophyllaceae. Its native range runs from Kenya to Mozambique. It also spans the western Indian Ocean. It is native to tropical and subtropical Asia and the Pacific, too. It grows on rocky and sandy shores, just above high tide. On some islands, groups of these trees grow inland on sand.

The tree grows slowly and forms a broad, spreading crown. One height entry gives 49 feet [15 metres]. The fuller account gives a height of 82 feet [25 metres]. It lists extremes of 115 feet [35 metres]. These records give no clear height range for garden trees. The trunk tends to stay short and may twist or lean. It can reach about 5 feet [1.5 metres] across. All parts hold sticky latex with a yellow tint. The white flowers smell like orange blossom. Insects carry pollen between the flowers.

This tree needs sun and a warm climate. It grows near coasts, in semi-arid to moist areas. On exposed shores, it faces winds that carry salt. The groundwater there is brackish, or slightly salty. It grows best at daytime temperatures of 28–35°C. Its reported tolerance range is 10–42°C. Temperatures of −1°C or below can kill it. It prefers 2,000–4,000 millimetres of rain each year. It can cope with a wider range of rainfall. Planted trees have thrived inland, 3,937 feet [1,200 metres] above sea level.

People plant it along roads and grow it for its looks. Its scented flowers add to its value in the landscape. It provides wind shelter and helps restore tree cover. Its seeds yield tamanu oil, also called foraha oil. People use purified oil in soap, skin products, and hair products. The bark supplies tannin. Traditional medicine uses the tree for skin care and other purposes. Research reports that some extracts have effects. This does not prove that home treatments are safe.

Food use calls for care. Reports say people can eat the pulp of unripe fruit. Ripe fruit may hold toxic compounds. Those reports do not prove that fruit is safe in general. Reports say seed oil is edible only after refining. Harvesting puts pressure on some wild groups of these trees. The supplied source records a 2011 IUCN assessment of Least Concern.