Botany
A large, deciduous tree, reaching a height of 20-25 meters. The branches are horizontally whorled. Leaves are shiny, obobate, 10-25 cm long, tapering to a narrow and heart-shaped base with a expanded rounded apex. Leaf stalks are short and stout. Flowers are white, small, and borne on 6- 18 cm long spikes in the axils of leaves. Fruit is smooth and ellipsoid, 3-6 cm long, and prominently bi-ridged to the sides. Pericarp is fibrous and fleshy, the endocarp hard.

Distribution
Found throughout the Philippines along seashores. A common inland tree preferred for its umbrella-type shade.

Constituents and characteristics
Seed contains 51.2 percent fixed oil, Catappa oil, with 54% olein, pamitin, and 46 % stearin.
Bark contains tannin.
Leaves are sudorific, antihelminthic.
Bark and roots are astringent.

Uses
Nutriton
Kernels are edible, with a sweet-acidic pericarp.
Folkloric
Red leaves are used to expel worms.
Fruit is said to be purgative.
Leaves mixed with oil are rubbed onto the breast to relieve mammary pain.
Bark is used for gastric ailments, bilious diarrhea and dysentery.
The sap of young leaves mixed with the kernel oil has been used for the treatment of leprosy.
Bark decoction has been used for the treatment of gonorrhea and stomach cramps.
Leaves are applied to rheumatic joints.
Juice of young leaves used for scabies and other cutaneous diseases, headaches and colic.
Leaves macerated in oil has been used for tonsilitis.

Availability
Wild crafted.