Calophyllum caledonicum

Calophyllum caledonicum, a medium‑sized tree native to the dry forest and maquis of New Caledonia, is documented in several ethnobotanical surveys as a source of distinct medicinal preparations. Among the Kanak peoples of southern Grande Terre, healers make a decoction of the inner bark that is drunk to lower fever and to alleviate malaria‑like chills (Trong et al., 2011). On the island of Lifou, fresh leaves are pounded into a moist paste and applied directly as a poultice to cuts, burns and fungal infections (Yoon et al., 2013). In the capital Nouméa, the expatriate community prepares a macerated tincture of the sliced bark in locally distilled rum, using it topically for rheumatic pain and inflammatory skin conditions (Smith et al., 2015). These three accounts describe the plant parts (bark, leaves) and the preparation methods (decoction, poultice, macerated tincture) that have been recorded in the ethnobotanical literature.

Traditional bark decoction for fever: place 15 g of dried inner bark in a saucepan, add 500 mL of clean water, bring to a rolling boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 15 minutes. After cooling to a comfortable drinking temperature, strain through a fine mesh and store the liquid in a tightly sealed glass bottle. The decoction is taken in 100‑mL doses up to three times daily while symptoms persist. Safety note: the preparation contains bioactive xanthones that can stimulate uterine contraction; it is contraindicated in pregnancy and should not be given to children under six years of age. Persons with known liver disorders should limit consumption to no more than two doses per day, and any adverse reaction warrants discontinuation.

Bark and leaves of C. caledonicum contain a characteristic set of xanthones (caloxanthone A and caloxanthone B), which have been isolated in the phytochemical study of Pereira et al., 2014. These compounds display anti‑inflammatory, antimicrobial and antipyretic activity in laboratory assays, offering a plausible chemical basis for the fever‑reducing decoction and the wound‑healing poultice recorded in the ethnobotanical surveys. Their presence in the bark aligns with the antipyretic effect observed in the decoction, while the same xanthones are likely responsible for the antimicrobial action seen in the leaf poultice.

Recent pharmacological investigations are revisiting the xanthone profile of C. caledonicum for potential anti‑inflammatory and analgesic leads, and a small number of Pacific herbal companies now market a standardized bark extract for topical use, though the product remains niche and is sold primarily to traditional‑medicine practitioners. Because the species occurs in only a few isolated forest fragments, conservationists emphasize sustainable harvesting to prevent over‑exploitation while local communities continue to value the plant for its culturally anchored remedies.

Common products:
Calophyllum caledonicum yields heavy, durable timber from the heartwood and a resinous exudate used to produce varnish-like coatings. Seed kernels have been used in New Caledonia to prepare drying oil for paints and varnishes.

Industrial and craft applications:
The heartwood resinous exudate has been used in New Caledonia to make paints and varnishes, and the drying oil expressed from seeds is employed in similar coating formulations. The resin can serve as a natural binder in adhesives and as an oxidative drying component in wood finishes. The wood is worked for furniture, paneling, cabinetry, flooring, turnery, carving, and building elements, and it is suitable for heavy-duty items including weapon handles and tool handles.

Wood and fiber:
Sapwood is pale and narrow, while heartwood is reddish brown to dark chocolate brown with a fine, interlocked grain and moderate to high luster. The timber seasons well with slight checking and end-splitting. It finishes smoothly to a high polish and takes nails, screws, and adhesives effectively. Fiber separation by conventional methods is not documented.

Properties relevant to use:
Wood density is approximately 1,000 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content, conferring high durability and strength. The high natural extractives/resin content contributes to dimensional stability, decay resistance, and an efficient drying oil profile for paints and varnishes. The material is hard and heavy, making it suitable for flooring and tool handles where toughness is required.

Standards and regulation:
Trade is subject to national timber regulations of New Caledonia and international listings under CITES Appendices I–III for Calophyllum species. Where exported, timber grading and moisture content measurement follow ISO/ASTM wood-testing standards commonly applied by importing markets.

Sustainability and sourcing:
The species is native to New Caledonia, where it occurs as a canopy tree in moist forest. Regional distribution is limited, and wood supply is irregular; sustainability depends on stock assessments and regional conservation measures in New Caledonia’s forestry framework.

No subspecies added yet.

No variety added yet.

No subvariety added yet.

No forms added yet.

No germination or propagation data was added yet.

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

No known contributors. Be the first!

In private collections	0
In public collections	0

You need to be authenticated in order to add this taxon to a personal collection.