Canarium zeylanicum
Canarium zeylanicum is a species of flowering plant in the frankincense family, Burseraceae, that is endemic to Sri Lanka.[2] Canarium zeylanicum is a large branched tree that can grow up to 25–30m in height. The seeds of this plant are large, oval, and they can be eaten. This plant can be seen with fruits and flowers in the months of April to September. The oil of the seeds of Canarium zeylanicum are edible and this oil has been used by Sri Lankans for medicinal purposes and for food for ages. However, these uses of the plant are confined to its rural population and even then, they mostly use it for traditional medicinal purposes. Over 95% of the seeds produced and harvested from these plants are thrown away, wasting its source of valuable, natural, and nutritional value.
| Canarium zeylanicum | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Burseraceae |
| Genus: | Canarium |
| Species: | C. zeylanicum |
| Binomial name | |
| Canarium zeylanicum | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
Amyris zeylanica Retz. | |
Culture
Known as කැකුණ (kekuna) in Sinhala.
References
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). "Canarium zeylanicum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T32577A9716017. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T32577A9716017.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- "Canarium zeylanicum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
- Seneviratne, K.N. and Kotuwegedara, R.T. (2009), Canarium zeylanicum seed oil: an edible oil with beneficial qualities. International Journal of Food Science & Technology, 44: 792–798. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2621.2008.01900.x
