Dryobalanops sumatrensis (J.F. Gmelin) Kosterm

Family

Dipterocarpaceae

Synonyms

Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertner f., Dryobalanops camphora Colebr.

Vernacular Names

Geographical Distributions

Dryobalanops sumatrensis is found in Peninsular Malaysia, north-western and eastern Sumatra, the Riau and Lingga archipelago, and northern and western Borneo.

Description

Dryobalanops sumatrensis is a very large tree that can reach up to 60(-67) m tall, and with a straight, cylindrical bole. It is branchless for up to 40 m, with diametre up to 200(-340) cm and buttresses measure up to 5 m high. The bark is yellowish-brown, strongly aromatic when slashed but not exuding any dammar at first.

The leaves are broadly ovate, measuring 4-6 cm x 2-4 cm, with acumen up to 15 mm long and hairless.

The sepal lobes of its fruit are spoon-shaped, measuring 4-6 cm x 0.8-2 cm and bordered by a cup measuring 6-8 mm deep and 8-15 mm wide.

Ecology / Cultivation

Dryobalanops sumatrensis favours well-drained, yellow, leached, sandy-clayey soils and performs best on lower and middle slopes, less so in valleys or on ridges, up to 400 m altitude. It is locally dominant or gregarious. The density of the wood is 630-940 kg/m³ at 15% moisture content.

Line Drawing / Photograph

References

1. Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.5(1): Timber trees: Major commercial timbers.