Terminalia kaernbachii aka Okari Nut

Terminalia kaernbachii, or okari nut, belongs to the Combretaceae family. Kew lists its native range as Papuasia. It grows in wet tropical forests, including forests along rivers. People gather its seeds from wild trees and also grow it. The nuts reach local markets and serve as a valued food. Its main use is as a food tree.

This large tree sheds its leaves and forms a broad crown. Published garden figures give about 66 feet (20 metres) for height and spread. Other accounts describe heights near 98 feet (30 metres). Useful Tropical Plants reports extremes of 148 feet (45 metres). It notes that cultivated trees tend to stay smaller. The straight, round trunk often forms buttresses at its base. Large, hairy leaves start yellow-green and later turn reddish-brown. The flowers grow on spikes, though the sources give no bloom season.

The red fruit has a fleshy coat and an oval shape. Fruit length ranges from 2.4–6.9 inches, with large seeds inside. Both the fruit and seeds are listed as edible. The kernels have a mild taste that recalls almonds. People eat them raw, roast them, or use them in baking. Seeds can contain up to half their weight in oil. They also provide a source of vegetable butter. Harvesters collect the fallen crop from the ground.

Grow this tree in full sun with moist, well-drained soil. It suits sandy, loamy, or clay soils of moderate fertility. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. Young trees may gain 6.6 feet (2 metres) a year. Fast growth does not mean an early nut crop. Seed-grown trees may still yield little after twenty years. Higher sites also reduce fruiting, as can sites near the sea. PFAF places it in USDA zones 10–12. Fresh seed sprouts well but soon loses its ability to germinate.

Its broad crown gives it the form of a large landscape tree. PFAF also lists it for food forests. The wood has some use in furniture and building work. It is moderately hard but can be brittle. The value of the nuts can discourage cutting trees for timber. The sources list no known medicinal uses or hazards. That does not establish safety for every person or pet. They give no specific pest or disease details.