Jangli Akhrot / Candle-Nut Tree
Aleurites moluccanus
Also known as Belgaum Walnut, Candlenut Tree, Candlenut Oil Tree, Candleberry, Indian Walnut, Varnish Tree
- Habit
- Tree
- Found in India
- Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Assam & more
- Flowering
- December-May
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Aleurites moluccanus
- Genus
- Aleurites
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Habitat
- Grown in the High ranges
- Habitat type
- Wetland, Cultivated
- Native to
- Hawaii
- Distribution
- India, China to Polynesia, New Zealand and introduced from Malesia
- Found in India
- Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Karnataka, West Bengal
- Flowering & fruiting
- December-May
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Leaf characters
- Arrangement
- Alternate
- Margin
- Variable
Typical of the Euphorbiaceae family — a field-mark hint, not measured for this exact species.
Flower & fruit characters
Typical of the Euphorbiaceae family — flowering plants only; individual species can differ.
Local Names
- Hindi
- जंगली आख़रोट Jangli akhrot, अख़रोट Akhrot
- Tamil
- நாட்டு அகரொட்டு Nattu akrottu, Woodooga
- Telugu
- Uduga, Natu akrotu
- Kannada
- ಅಕ್ರೋಡ Akroda, ನಾಟಕ್ರೋಡು Natakrodu, Arkod
- Malayalam
- Akrottu, Akshotam, Karankolam
- Marathi
- रामाखरोट Ramakrot, अखरोड Akhod, Japhala
Jangli Akhrot in India
This tree, known as जंगली आख़रोट Jangli akhrot (Hindi), நாட்டு அகரொட்டு Nattu akrottu (Tamil), Uduga (Telugu), ಅಕ್ರೋಡ Akroda (Kannada), Akrottu (Malayalam), रामाखरोट Ramakrot (Marathi), produces oily nuts historically burned for light. Aleurites moluccanus is found across Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Bengal, Karnataka, West Bengal, typically in moist forest and often planted for shade.
Uses
Its oil-rich nuts were traditionally strung and burned as primitive candles before modern lighting, and the oil has also been used in varnish, paints and traditional skin care — attributed traditional uses, not medical claims.
How to Identify Jangli Akhrot
A fast-growing tree with large, pale green, star-shaped to oval leaves that often have a silvery-grey sheen, especially on new growth. Small white flower clusters are followed by round, hard-shelled nuts containing oily kernels.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Candle-nut Tree called in different Indian languages?
- जंगली आख़रोट Jangli akhrot (Hindi); நாட்டு அகரொட்டு Nattu akrottu (Tamil); Uduga (Telugu); ಅಕ್ರೋಡ Akroda (Kannada); Akrottu (Malayalam); रामाखरोट Ramakrot (Marathi).
- Why is it called 'candlenut'?
- Its oily kernels burn slowly and steadily when strung on a stick, and were traditionally used as a simple candle substitute for light before modern lighting was available.
- Are candlenuts edible?
- Raw candlenuts are mildly toxic and should not be eaten raw; in cuisines where they're used as a food ingredient, they are always cooked or roasted first.
Euphorbiaceae
Spurge/Euphorbia family
Jangli Akhrot belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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Common plant problems
All plant problem & care guides →More in Euphorbiaceae
View all Euphorbiaceae →Sources: GBIF — Aleurites moluccanus (India distribution & vernacular names) (CC BY 4.0) · Wikipedia — Aleurites moluccanus (background/comprehension only) (CC BY-SA 4.0)