The white and yellow flowers of the Tamanu open during the day and close at night. Its oily fruits are eaten by flying foxes, which thereby help to achieve the distribution of the seeds.
The Tamanu, or Alexandrian laurel, is a large tree found in the rainforests of Madagascar and tropical Asia. This plant, which grows very slowly, can reach a height of up to 35 metres.
The wood is used in furniture-making and boat-building.