Bitterroot Restoration

Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Clusiaceae

Common name: Punnag, Katchampa, Sultanachampa, Puinal, Panial(Beng.); Alexandrian laurel(Eng.).
Native Range: Native from East Africa, southern coastal India to Malesia and Australia.

Calophyllum inophyllum is a large evergreen. It is widely cultivated in all tropical regions of the world, including several Pacific Islands. It is a low-branching and slow-growing tree with a broad and irregular crown. Calophyllum inophyllum usually reaches 8 to 20 metres (26 to 66 ft) in height. The flower is 25 millimetres wide and occurs in racemose or paniculate inflorescences consisting of 4 to 15 flowers. Flowering can occur year-round, but usually two distinct flowering periods are observed, in late spring and in late autumn. The fruit is a round, green drupe reaching 2 to 4 centimetres in diameter and having a single large seed. When ripe, the fruit is wrinkled and its color varies from yellow to brownish-red.

It is a popular ornamental plant, its wood is hard and strong and has been used in construction or boatbuilding. The seeds yield a thick, dark green oil for medicinal use or hair grease.