Dillenia excelsa (Jack) Gilg
Family
Dilleniaceae
Synonyms
Wormia excelsa Jack, Wormia oblonga Wallich ex Hook.f. & Thomson, Wormia tomentella Martelli.
Vernacular Names
|
Malaysia |
Simpoh ungu (Peninsular), simpoh laki (Sabah), simpur bukit, simpoh wangi (Sarawak). |
|
Indonesia |
Sempur segel (Sundanese, Java), simpur talang (Sumatra), kendikara (Kalimantan). |
|
Thailand |
San-dam (Nakhon Si Thammarat), saen (Songkhla). |
|
Philippines |
Katmonlayugan. |
Geographical Distributions
Dillenia excelsa is distributed throughout Peninsular Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Bangka, western Java, Borneo and the Philippines (Balabac Island).
Description
Dillenia excelsa is a medium-sized to fairly large evergreen tree that can reach up to 40 m tall, with its bole branchless for up to 20 m and measures up to 75 cm in diametre. The buttresses are absent or small, with fissured to papery scaly bark surface and greyish-brown.
The leaves are elliptical to oblong, measuring 15-30 cm x 7-10 cm, with slightly undulate to dentate or entire margin and petiole is up to 5 cm long.
The flowers are 7-10 cm in diametre, with 5 sepals and bright yellow petals. The stamens are in 2 distinct groups. The inner ones are larger, with purplish anthers, without acumen and open by pores.
The fruit is dehiscent.
The seed is enclosed at the base by red aril.
Ecology / Cultivation
Dillenia excelsa is variable in hairiness and is subdivided into three varieties. It occurs commonly in lowland forests, in swampy areas and on hillsides. The dark reddish wood is comparatively heavy with a density of 650-1080 kg/m3 at 15% moisture content and more durable than in other species.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
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Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 5(2): Timber trees: Minor commercial timbers.
