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Palaquium gutta
| Family Name: | Sapotaceae |
| Common Name: | Gutta Percha, Getah Merah, Taban Merah, Taban |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, and Singapore |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree that grows up to 30 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its spirally arranged, stalked leaves have leathery leaf blades that are dark green above, golden-coppery below, drop-shaped to narrowly drop-shaped, and 7.5–12.5 by 3.8–6.3 cm, with 20 veins or more. |
| Flowers | Its flowers are in clusters of 4–5, axillary on the bare parts of branches. Its 6 sepals are brown and covered with fine hair. Its petals are white and 6 mm long. |
| Fruit | Its berries are red, oblong, finely hairy, and 15–17 mm long. |
| Habitat | It grows in forests, up to 1600 m altitude. It occurs locally in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Pulau Sakijang Pelepah, Sentosa, and a few other sites. |
| Etymology | Palaquium, from the Philippines vernacular name, palak-palak, for the gutta percha tree; Latin gutta, derived from Malay getah, referring to the latex this species produces. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: It is tapped for its latex (gutta percha). Gutta percha has been used extensively for submarine and underground cables owing to its non-conductivity for electricity and heat, and imperviousness to water. It has been used for the manufacturing of golf balls. It has been also used for medical and chemical instruments, in dentistry, for transmission belts and acid-resistant receptacles, as an adhesive, as a water-proofing agent and as an ingredient of chewing gum. Its main application is for protecting wounds and in dental clinics where it is useful for people allergic to synthetic fillers. Gutta-percha is used for fixing tools in their handles. Its timber is used as ‘nyatoh’, for plants, paneling, and for manufacture of fine furniture, decorative doors and veneers. Its seeds contain a fat used for manufacture of soap and candles, and sometimes for cooking. |
Landscaping Features
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly Host Plant |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
|---|
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3288 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
