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Dipterocarpus cornutus Dyer

Family Name:	Dipterocarpaceae
Common Name:	Keruing Gombang, Keruing Pekat, Keruing Marah Keluang Akas, Keruing Gajah

Dipterocarpus cornutus, also known as Keruing Gombang is a critically endangered tree in Singapore. It has large plicate leaves which are pale yellow with minute hairs on the underside. It produces Keruing timber as well as wood-oil which is used as a varnish for caulking boats and illumination purposes.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants)
Plant Growth Form	Tree
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Irregular
Maximum Height	65 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a large tree with pale coloured bark, possibly up to 65 m tall.
Foliage	The leaves are large and broadly elliptic to oblong-ovate (15 – 30 cm long and 7.5 – 18 cm wide). They are leathery with parallel folds (plicate). The upper surface of the leaf is green while the underside is pale yellow or cream with minute hairs. Each leaf has 18 – 21 pairs of lateral veins which are prominent on the underside. The leaf base is obtuse while leaf tip is obtuse or slightly notched (subretuse). The leaf stalk is stout (5 – 8.5 cm long) and the stipule is strap-shaped (20 cm long and 4 cm wide), often bright red coloured with tufted hairs.
Flowers	Flowers occur in an unbranched cluster at the axillary position. Each inflorescence is up to 28 cm long and comprises of up to 10 flowers. The flower bud can reach up to 3.5 cm long and 1 cm wide.

Fruit	The fruit is woody and winged. Each fruit has 2 longer calyx lobes (about 21 cm long and 5 cm wide) and 3 shorter lobes (about 15 mm long). The calyx tube is almost round (about 2.5 – 3.7 cm long), and warty with large round tubercles.
Habitat	It is found in rainforest up to 1000 m altitude.
Associated Fauna	Flowers are pollinated by insects.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	Genus Dipterocarpus is from Greek words "dipteros" which means "two-winged" and "karpos" which means "fruit" and they refer to the character of the fruit. The specific epithet cornutus, in Latin, means 'horn-shaped’.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Timber & Products: In Malaysia, the timber is used as keruing for medium to heavy construction. The wood is also used to make charcoal. Others: The trunk is tapped to harvest a wood-oil which is used as a varnish for caulking boats and illumination purposes.

Landscaping Features

Landscape Uses	Reforestation

SGMP Treatment

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate to Slow

Rootzone Tolerance

Well-Drained Soils

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Leathery

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Obtuse, Retuse
Foliar Base	Rounded / Obtuse

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Stem Type & Modification	Woody
Root Type	Underground

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Axillary

Flowering Period	Every Few Years
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Mature Fruit Texture(s)	Bumpy / Tuberculate, Leathery
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit

Fruit Type	Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Samara
Seed Quantity Per Fruit	Few (1-5)

References

References	Ashton, P.S. (1982). Dipterocarpaceae. In: van Steenis, C.G.G.J. (ed.) Flora Malesiana, ser.1,vol. 9, part 2, pp. 237–552, 575–600. The Hague/Boston/London: Martinus Nijhoff/Dr. W. Junk Publishers. Soerianegara, I., & Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (Editors). 1993. Plant Resources of South-East Asia Volume 5 (1). Timber Trees: Major Commercial Timbers. Netherlands: Pudoc Scientific Publishers. 610 pages. Symington, C.F., Ashton, P.S. & Appanah, S. (2004). In: Barlow, H.S. (ed.) Foresters’ Manual of Dipterocarps. Malayan Forest Records, no. 16, 2nd ed. Kuala Lumpur: Forest Research Institute Malaysia/Malaysian Nature Society

References

Ashton, P.S. (1982). Dipterocarpaceae. In: van Steenis, C.G.G.J. (ed.) Flora Malesiana, ser.1,vol. 9, part 2, pp. 237–552, 575–600. The Hague/Boston/London: Martinus Nijhoff/Dr. W. Junk Publishers.

Soerianegara, I., & Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (Editors). 1993. Plant Resources of South-East Asia Volume 5 (1). Timber Trees: Major Commercial Timbers. Netherlands: Pudoc Scientific Publishers. 610 pages.

Symington, C.F., Ashton, P.S. & Appanah, S. (2004). In: Barlow, H.S. (ed.) Foresters’ Manual of Dipterocarps. Malayan Forest Records, no. 16, 2nd ed. Kuala Lumpur: Forest Research Institute Malaysia/Malaysian Nature Society

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Master ID	29067
Species ID	3384
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.