Shorea smithiana
Symington
Rambai meranti tree
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Arief Hamidi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Arief Hamidi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Arief Hamidi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
A large tropical tree growing to 60 m tall with a trunk up to 160 cm across and buttresses reaching 4 m. The simple alternate leaves are broadly oval to oblong, 12–20 cm long with papery to leathery texture and grey hairs underneath. Pink to red flowers about 26 mm across appear in leaf axils or branch tips, followed by oval nuts 2 cm long with pale cream hairs and distinctive lobes—three long narrowly spoon-shaped lobes 20 cm long by 3 cm wide and two shorter lobes.
Distribution
Southeast Asia - endemic to Borneo, in Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Where It Grows
Nuts - oil,
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 bark sometimes used as floor cover. The trunk contains resin. The wood is used. The wood from this tree is one of several known as 'light red meranti'. We do not have specific information for this species, but the 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
Dipterocarpaceae
Notes
A tree. It grows 60 m tall. The trunk can be 160 cm across. It has buttresses 4 m tall. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are broadly oval to oblong and 12-20 cm long by 7-12 cm wide. They are papery to leathery and have grey hairs underneath. There are 14-17 pairs of secondary veins. The flowers are pink to red and 26 mm across They are in groups in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The fruit is an oval nut 2 cm long. It has pale cream hairs. There are 3 longer lobes that are narrowly spoon shaped and 20 cm long by 3 cm wide and then 2 shorter lobes.
Also Known As
Engkabang rambai, Pohon meranti rambai
References (4)
- Blicher-Mathiesen, U., 1994, Borneo Illipe, A Fat Product from Different Shorea spp. (Dipterocarpaceae). Economic Botany Vol. 48, No. 3, pp. 231-242
- Chai, P. P. K. (Ed), et al, 2000, A checklist of Flora, Fauna, Food and Medicinal Plants. Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sarawak. Forestry Malaysia & ITTO. p 171
- Coolen, Q. T., 2013, The Illipe nut (Shorea spp.) as additional resource in plantation forestry. Van Hall Larenstein University and Sarawak Forestry.
- Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 513
