The Domestication of Fruit and Nut Tree Species in Vanuatu, Oceania - Indigenous Fruit Trees in the Tropics: Domestication, Utilization and Commercialization - page 130

colour, the rhythm of flowering, productivity and the ease of cracking the nuts.
The tree is found in secondary forest up to 400 m.a.s.l. The species is abundant
in the northern part of Vanuatu but rarer in the southern part. Trees are
protected in forests and cultivated around villages. Wildings or fruits that have
reached full ripeness are planted in shallow holes. Mature trees are regularly
pruned to make the fruits easier to pick. Apparently, human selection has
produced some trees that continue to fruit out of season and some very
productive ones.
The kernels are boiled, roasted or crushed and sprinkled on the laplap
(Walter et al. , 1994). The nutritional value of the nuts and their potential for
commercialization, for example in the muesli industry in Australia and New
Zealand, has led the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to undertake some research
on their agronomy and processing (Stevens et al ., 1996). Vanuatu does not
have the same resources as the Solomon Islands (Evans, 1999) but has the
important advantage of commercial development driven by the private sector.
This, combined with the existence of superior morphotypes, could be
developed into a significant industry.
7.3.5 Dracontomelon vitiense
This large tree, Dracontomelon vitiense Engler, commonly called the dragon
plum, is found in stands of primary forests. In the wild it is spread by bats but it
is often found around villages or in gardens, and seedlings are transplanted
close to the homestead. The Melanesians appreciate the acid taste of the small
fruits, which are eaten raw as a snack or cooked in coconut milk. Harvesting is
done with the help of a bamboo pole and the fruits are then transported to the
village or to the urban market. There are only two types of dragon plum
according to the size of the fruit: those with large and small fruits. There is
continuous selection pressure to produce trees that produce larger, fleshier and
sweeter fruits. Productivity varies greatly from one individual to another. This
species is also exploited for its high-quality timber, which is used to make the
frameworks of houses.
7.3.6 Inocarpus fagifer
Inocarpus fagifer (Parkinson ex. Zollinger) Fosberg is commonly known as the
Tahitian chestnut. In Vanuatu this species is found surrounding villages in
the coastal zone up to 400 m.a.s.l. It is more abundant in the south than in the
north. The species displays a great variety of forms. The size, colour and shape
of the fruit are very variable. The cooked kernel has a flavour that varies greatly
from one tree to another and villagers choose trees according to the aroma of
the kernels that they produce. When an isolated tree that bears fruits that are
distinct for their size, shape or colour is found, the villagers collect the volunteer
seedlings and plant them closer to their village. Fruit bats feed on the pulp and
spread the seeds.