Palaquium walsurifolium

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Summary

Palaquium walsurifolium is a tree in the family Sapotaceae. The specific epithet walsurifolium refers to similarity of the tree's leaves to those of the genus Walsura.

Description

Palaquium walsurifolium is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 45 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 77cm in diameter. The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is used locally and also traded under the name 'Nyatoh'.

Edible Uses

The latex of Palaquium walsurifolium is used to make gutta-percha. The species has edible fruits. Its timber is locally used for furniture and flooring.

Traditional Uses

Fruit,

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Indonesia.

Where It Grows

An upper canopy tree in undisturbed peat-swamp and mixed dipterocarp forests; usually in alluvial sites (peat-swamps), but also common on ridges with sandy or limestone soils; at elevations up to 1,000 metres.

Cultivation

Sapotaceae

Other Uses

We do not have any more specific information on the wood of this species, but it belongs to a group of timbers collectively called 'Nyatoh'. The general description of nyatoh wood is as follows:- The heartwood is a dark pink to a red-brown; it is clearly demarcated from the 4 - 9cm wide band of lighter-coloured sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight or interlocked, sometimes wavy. The wood is light in weight, soft to moderately hard; strong, somewhat durable, being resistant to dry wood borers, moderately resistant to fungi but susceptible to termites. It seasons somewhat slowly, with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is stable in service. There is a very variable content of silica according to the species, but in general the wood has a high blunting effect so stellite-tipped and tungsten-carbide tools are recommended; nailing and screwing are good, but require pre-boring; gluing is correct. The wood has a range of applications, including for high class furniture and cabinet making, solid doors, panelling, joinery, parquet flooring, boat decking, light carpentry, turnery, moulding and veneer. The wood is used for fuel.

Production

A tree. It grows 30-45 m tall. The trunk can be 50 cm across. It has stilt roots. The leaves are usually clustered at the ends of the twigs. The flowering shoots have up to 5 flowers. The fruit are 1-2 cm long.

Also Known As

Balam putih, Balam serindit, Nyatoh jangkar

References (4)

Moon, H. K., et al, 2010, Tropical Tree of Indonesia. Korea Forest Research Institute. p 257
PROSEA
Soerianegara, I. & Lemmens, R. H. M. L., (Eds.) 1993, Timber trees: Major commercial timbers. Plant Resources of South-East Asia. Wageningen. No. 5(1). p 304
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew