Canarium luzonicum

Canarium luzonicum, or Manila elemi, belongs to the Burseraceae family. This large evergreen tree grows only in the Philippines naturally. It lives in lowland rainforest and forests at middle elevations. People harvest wild trees and also grow them for useful products. Habitat loss threatens the species in its native forests. Useful Tropical Plants cites a 2011 IUCN assessment listing it as Vulnerable.

The tree reaches about 98 feet [30 metres] in height. Some trees grow taller than this reported size. PFAF gives a spread of about 66 feet [20 metres]. The trunk can reach about 3.3 feet [1 metre] across. Cuts in the bark release a soft, fragrant resin. This resin, called Manila elemi, has many practical uses. Its colour ranges from pale yellow to greenish yellow.

Insects pollinate the flowers, and trees have separate sexes. Grow both male and female trees to obtain fruit and seed. Wild nuts often hold two or three kernels in separate chambers. Some cultivated trees bear nuts with just one larger kernel. Their shells are thick and can be hard to crack. People eat the sweet kernels raw or cooked. They also roast them or add them to sweets. Remove the kernel coat, since it can cause diarrhoea. People boil the fruit pulp and eat young shoots raw. The seeds also yield oil for cooking.

For cultivation, provide full sun and soil that drains well. PFAF reports that the tree does not grow in shade. It prefers moist soil and suits a wet tropical climate. It can grow in sand, loam, or clay. Suitable soil pH ranges from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. PFAF places it in USDA hardiness zones 10–12. Its large size needs space when grown as a crop tree. The edible seeds give it a place in tropical food forests.

The resin goes into varnish, ink, perfume, and boat sealants. People also use it in torches and traditional medicine. Reported medicinal uses include treatment of fever and joint pain. These records describe uses rather than establish safe home treatments. The bark provides tannin, while the wood serves for light construction. Its wood is not very hard. A tree can yield around four to five kilograms of resin.