Shorea sumatrana
(Slooten) Desch
Senkawang balau tree
iNaturalist· pd
Patrice78500, no known copyright restrictions (public domain)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) narido, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) narido, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaShorea sumatrana is a species of tree in the family Dipterocarpaceae. It grows naturally in Sumatra, Java and Peninsular Malaysia.
Description
A large tree. It grows 45 m tall. The trunk can be 115 cm across. It can be 25 m to the first branch. The trunk can be 4 m around. It has buttresses. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are oblong to sword shaped and 16.5 cm long by 7.5 cm wide. They are thinly leathery with 10 pairs of secondary veins. The flowers are pink to yellow and in groups. These can be in the axils of leaves or on branches near the ends of branches. The fruit are oval nuts. They are hairy and have a scent. There are 3 longer calyx lobes that are broadly spoon shaped and 2 shorter lobes.
Edible Uses
The fat or oil from the nuts is mixed with rice and used like butter.
Traditional Uses
The fat or oil is mixed with rice like butter.
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 along the banks of slow flowing rivers up to 1,000 m above sea level. They grow beside streams. They grow best on alluvial soils often in places which are occasionally flooded.
Where It Grows
Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia, Singapore, Thailand,
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from seeds.
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 seed is rather small, around 1cm long and wide. The wood is a source of the timber 'Red Balau'. We do not have a specific description for the wood of this species, 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.
Production
The fallen fruit are gathered immediately. They are then stored in heaps with water. These germinate straight away and the germinated seedlings are dried and the oil extracted. This is done by pounding in a rice skimmer. This is boiled in water and the fat skimmed off. The trees can flower after 6 years but do not always fruit that early.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Pohon balau sengkawang, Sengkawang, Tengkawang, Tengkawang ijok
References (5)
- Blicher-Mathiesen, U., 1994, Borneo Illipe, A Fat Product from Different Shorea spp. (Dipterocarpaceae). Economic Botany Vol. 48, No. 3, pp. 231-242
- Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 2 (I-Z) p 1275, 1277, (As Isoptera sumatrana)
- Menninger, E.A., 1977, Edible Nuts of the World. Horticultural Books. Florida p 30
- Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 513
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
