Inocarpus edulis.

Botanical name: 

Inocarpus edulis Forst. Leguminosae. Tahitian Chestnut.

Islands of the Pacific. The nuts of the ivi, or Tahitian chestnut, says Seemann, are eaten in the Fiji Islands, roasted or in a green state, and are soft and pleasant to the taste. They are much prized by the natives of the Indian Archipelago and in Machian the inhabitants almost live on them. Labillardiere says the fruit is eaten boiled by the natives of the Friendly Islands and the flavor is very much like that of chestnuts. Wilkes says it is the principal food of the mountaineers of Fiji. Voigt says the nuts are edible but are by no means pleasant. The tree is called in Tahiti, rata.


Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World, 1919, was edited by U. P. Hedrick.