Shorea falciferoides

Foxw.

Dipterocarpaceae Edible: ? 1 iNaturalist observations

gbif· cc0

President and Fellows of Harvard College

gbif· cc0

President and Fellows of Harvard College

gbif· cc0

President and Fellows of Harvard College

Summary

Source: Wikipedia

Shorea falciferoides, also known as yakal yamban in the Philippines, is a species of plant in the family Dipterocarpaceae. It is native to Borneo and the Philippines. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Description

A large tree. It can grow 60 m tall. The trunk can be 180 cm across. It has buttresses 3 m tall. The leaves are broadly oval and 10-18 cm long by 4.5-8 cm wide. The fruit has unequal lobes up to 9.5 cm long by 2.2 cm wide.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Asia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, SE Asia,

Cultivation

A slow-growing tree.

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 wood is a source of the timber 'Red Balau'. We do not have a specific description, but the general description of red balau is as follows:- The heartwood is light to dark red-brown, or purplish red-brown to grey-brown; it is clearly demarcated from the 3 - 8cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain interlocked. The wood is heavy, hard, moderately durable, being resistant to dry wood borers and moderately resistant to fungi and termites. The wood seasons slowly with a high risk of distortion and checking; once dry it is moderately stable in service. It has a fairly high blunting effect upon tools, power-driven stellite-tipped and tungsten carbite tools are recommended; nailing and screwing are good, but pre-boring is necessary to avoid splitting; gluing is correct for interior purposes. The wood has a variety of uses including light construction, flooring, exterior joinery, musical instruments, boxes and crates etc.