Tahitian Chestnut, Inocarpus fagifer, is a medium size, evergreen tropical nut bearing tree indigenous to many South Pacific countries with a moderate to high; mean annual rainfall of 1500-4000 mm and a mean annual temperature of 28C. It is found commonly along riverbanks, swamps, marshes, and coastal shorelines across Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia but also in home gardens. The Tahitian chestnut produces a seed that is edible, when cooked, and is among the most important nut species in the Pacific.


The tree grows to 20 m in height. It has a bark that it is rough and flaky and a shallow taproot. Its secondary branching creates a network of branches within its branches that gives it a very dense canopy. Tahitian chestnut is shade and salt spray tolerant tree. Leaves are dark green and leathery, 15-40 cm long and 5-15 cm wide. Flowering begins when trees are at an age of 3-5 years old with fragrant flowers that appear in clusters at the apex of stems and twigs.

Tahitian Chestnut Fruit and Nuts

The fruits of the Tahitian chestnut are irregular and slightly flattened in shape produced in clusters and weight from 50-100g each. The skin is smooth and covers a fibrous shell that encases the kernel. Young fruit is green, but as it ripens the color usually changes from green to orange brown. The kernels are large, edible after they have been cooked, with a short self life. A 25 plus years old tree can yield up to 70 kg of fruit per year.

Tahitian chestnut grows in a wide range of soils that include saline soils and poorly drained. It can grow in mildly acidic to very alkaline coastal soils. The tree however, grows best in areas where the soils have free drainage and full sunlight, although seedlings can grow in partial shade.

Tahitian Chestnut Propagation Methods

Most common method of propagating of the Tahitian Chestnut is by direct-seeding into the fields but, air-layering and stem cuttings have been successful. There are not major pests or diseases although developing flowers and fruits are susceptible to fruit flies.

tahitian chestnut, inocarpus fagifer

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