Shorea stenoptera

Description

A large tree. It grows 25 m tall. The trunk can be 60 cm across. It has small buttresses. The leaves are narrowly oval to oblong and 18-40 cm long by 8-22 cm wide. They are thickly leathery with 10-14 pairs of secondary veins. It flowers and fruits annually. The flowers are deep pink in the axils of leaves or at the ends of the branches. The fruit are oval nuts. There are 3 long calyx lobes that are spoon shaped and 7.5 cm long by 2 cm wide and then 2 shorter lobes.

Edible Uses

The seeds are pressed for oil, commonly called illipe butter, which is used as a substitute for cocoa butter in chocolate production.

Traditional Uses

The nuts are the source of a fat sometimes called illipe butter and used as a substitute for cocoa butter in the production of chocolate.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

An edible fat obtained from the seed is easily absorbed by the skin. It can be used to treat skin problems and is often used as a carrier to apply other substances to the skin.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in poorly drained sandy soils at low elevations. It can be in seasonally flooded sandy river banks and lowland forests.

Where It Grows

Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds or stem cuttings.

Propagation

We have no specific information for this species - the information below is a general guide for the genus. Seed - best sown as soon as possible. It does not require pre-treatment, but it is recommended to soak the seed for 12 hours prior to sowing. The seeds are sown in seedbeds, where they are covered with a mixture of sand and soil (1:1) or with a thin layer of sawdust. Germination of fresh seeds is usually good and rapid. About two weeks after germination, when the seedlings are 5 - 6cm tall, they are potted up into individual containers about 15 x 23cm with good drainage holes at their base. It is normally recommended to use a mixture of forest soil and sand (at a ratio of 3:1) as the potting medium in order to introduce the appropriate mycorrhiza to the roots. The seedlings are placed in 50 - 60% sunlight and watered twice daily. Seedlings can be planted out when 30 - 40cm tall - harden the seedlings off in full sunlight for one month prior to planting.

Other Uses

The seeds of many species in this genus, including this species, yield an oil that has an unusually high melting point and is solid at room temperature. Average yields range from 45 - 70% according to species. The fat is somewhat similar to Cacao butter (obtained from Theobroma spp.) and can be used in a variety of ways, often combined with cacao butter. In addition to it being edible, it has medicinal uses and can be used in making soap, candles, polishes and cosmetics. The ovoid seeds can be 5cm long and 3cm wide. The wood is used. The tree is a source of 'light red meranti' timber. We do not have a specific description for the wood of this species, but a general description of light red meranti is as follows:- The heartwood is light red to pink or pink-brown, with white resin streaks; it is clearly demarcated from the 5 - 8cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain interlocked with a ribbon-like aspect; the surface is lustrous. The wood is light in weight, soft, moderately durable, being resistant to dry wood borers, somewhat resistant to fungi and susceptible to termites. The wood seasons well with a slight risk of checking or distortion; once dry it is stable to moderately stable in service. The wood works well with normal tools, though the tools need to be kept sharp because it has a tendency towards woolliness; it generally finishes fairly well, though filling is recommended; screwing and nailing are good; gluing is correct. The wood is used for several purposes including interior and exterior panelling and joinery, light carpentry, boxes and crates, veneer etc.

Other Information

It is cultivated.

Also Known As

Engkabang kerangas, Engkabang rusa, Pohon tengkawang tungkul

References (9)

• Blicher-Mathiesen, U., 1994, Borneo Illipe, A Fat Product from Different Shorea spp. (Dipterocarpaceae). Economic Botany Vol. 48, No. 3, pp. 231-242
• Coolen, Q. T., 2013, The Illipe nut (Shorea spp.) as additional resource in plantation forestry. Van Hall Larenstein University and Sarawak Forestry.
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 91
• Meded. Lands Plantentuin 3:11. 1886
• Milow, P., et al, 2013, Malaysian species of plants with edible fruits or seeds and their evaluation. International Journal of Fruit Science. 14:1, 1-27

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