Aglaia lawii (Wight) C.J. Saldanha ex Ramamoorthy
Family
Meliaceae
Synonyms
Aglaia littoralis Zippelius ex Miq., Amoora korthalsii Miq., Amoora lawii (Wight) Beddome, Aglaia eusideroxylon Koord. & Valeton.
Vernacular Names
| Malaysia | Bekak (Peninsular), lasat-lasat (Dayak, Sabah), segera (lban, Sarawak). |
| Indonesia | Lasih (Sumatra), kayu jangan (Sulawesi), langsat lutung (Java), aisnepapir (Biak, Irian Jaya). |
| Thailand | Sang katong (Peninsular). |
| Philippines | Talisaian (lbanag), salotoi (Ibanag), sulmin (Tagalog). |
| Myanmar | Tagat-thitto. |
Geographical Distributions
Aglaia lawii is distributed from India, through Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Indo-China and throughout Malesia towards the Solomon Islands.
Description
Aglaia lawii is a medium-sized to fairly large tree which can reach up to 40 m tall. Its bole is branchless for up to 15 m, measures up to 200 cm in diametre, fluted or with buttresses up to 1.8 m high. The bark surface is reddish brown to yellowish-brown or pale pinkish-brown but sometimes grey or greenish-brown while the inner bark is green.
There are (1-)2-7(-11) leaflets which are arranged alternate to subopposite, with 5-21 pairs of secondary veins, with numerous pits on both surfaces, smooth on both surfaces or with numerous pale brown or pale orange-brown peltate scales with an irregular to fimbriate margin on the lower surface.
The flowers are 3-4(-6)-merous, with (5-)6-10(-11) anthers and an ovoid style-head with (2-)3 apical lobes or columnar with a truncate apex. The fruit is (2-)3(-4)-locular and dehiscent.
Ecology / Cultivation
Aglaia lawii is locally common and occurs in primary or secondary evergreen to deciduous forests, sometimes in peat swamp or riverine forests, on sandy to clayey soils or limestone, from sea level up to 1650 m altitude. The wood is reported as hard and durable and has a density of 590-995 kg/m3 at 15% moisture content.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
- Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.5(2): Timber trees: Minor commercial timbers.
