ABSTRACT
The candlenut is a tropical Southeast Asian tree, usually 9 to 12 m (30-39 ft.) in height, growing as tall as 20 m (66 ft.), occasionally to 27 m (90 ft.). It bears clusters of small, whitish §owers, maple-like leaves, and nut-like, round, hard fruits 2.5 to 8 cm (about 1-3 in.) in diameter, with a thick, §eshy husk. The shell of the fruit is whitish when young, becoming black at maturity. The fruits contain one or two sometimes three waxy white kernels. This native of Malaysia, Polynesia, Malay Peninsula, Philippines, and the South Seas Islands is now widely distributed in the Tropics. The ancient Polynesians brought candlenut to the Hawaiian Islands, and it is the state’s ofcial tree. The species is cultivated in China and the Philippine Islands for a drying oil used in paints, varnishes, lacquer, and soft soap. The candlenut as well as several unrelated species is used to produce “tung oil,” a superior quick-drying oil with many applications. The tung-oil tree (Vernica fordii (Hemsl.) Airy Shaw, formerly known as Aleurites fordii Hemsl.) is the principal source of high-quality tung oil.
