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Rubroshorea curtisii (Dyer ex King) P.S.Ashton & J.Heck. subsp. curtisii

Family Name:	Dipterocarpaceae
Synonyms:	Shorea curtisii Dyer ex King
Common Name:	Seraya, Meranti Seraya, Meranti Kampong

Rubroshorea curtisii subsp. curtisii, also known as Seraya, is an endangered tree in Singapore that can reach up to 70 m tall. It has pale cream yellow or deep crimson flowers and winged fruits. The wood is prized regionally for light to medium construction such as door and window frames.

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Tree

Name

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

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Big (>30m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Broad / Mushroom / Hemispherical
Maximum Height	70 m
Tree or Palm – Trunk Diameter	2 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo.
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a tree, up to 70 m tall, with large buttresses, up to 1.8 m tall. The trunk can reach up to 2 m in girth. The bark is deeply fissured.
Foliage	The leaves are ovate-lanceolate, measuring 6 – 9 cm long and 2.5 – 3.5 cm wide, and have a leathery texture. Each leaf has 9 – 11 pairs of lateral veins. The midrib is slightly sunken on the upper surface yet prominently on the underside of the leaf. The leaf tip is tapering (acuminate), up to 0.8 cm long, while the leaf base is broadly wedged shaped (cuneate). Domatia are absent. The leaf stalk (petiole) is 1 – 1.3 cm long and may be covered with short hairs. Stipule is obtuse, measuring up to 1 cm long and 0.4 cm wide.
Flowers	The flowers occur in a cluster (panicle) at the axis or terminal end of the branches. Each inflorescence is up to 6 cm long and bearing up to 12 flowers. The flower buds are small (up to 0.5 cm long). Flowers are small with pale cream yellow or deep crimson petals. Each flower has 15 stamens with subglobose anthers. The connective appendage is short or rudimentary. The ovary is ovoid and hairy.

Fruit	The fruit is winged and dry. They are borne on stalks which are 1 mm long. Each fruit comprises of three wing-like calyx lobes, measuring up to 7 cm long and 1 cm wide, two shorter lobes (up to 4 cm long and 0.3 cm wide) and one oval-shaped nut (up to 1.2 cm long and 0.9 cm wide) with a short style remnant at the tip (about 0.1 mm long).
Habitat	It is found in rainforests, especially on ridges, up to 1200 m altitude.
Associated Fauna	Flowers are pollinated by insects.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	The genus epithet comprises of two parts: Rubro, in Latin, means red, while shorea commemorates Sir John Shore (1793-1798), the Governor-General for the British East India Company. The specific epithet commemorates C. Curtis (1853-1928), first Curator of Waterfall Gardens in Penang, Peninsular Malaysia.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Timber & Products: It produces dark red meranti timber that is prized regionally for light to medium construction, such as door and window frames, beams, joists, interior furniture, boat building and flooring. Cultural / Religious: Heritage Tree: There is currently one individual of Rubroshorea curtisii listed as Heritage Tree in Singapore. It can be found in Singapore Botanic Gardens. To find out more about this tree, please visit the Heritage Tree Register.

Landscaping Features

Landscape Uses	Parks & Gardens, Reforestation

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun, Semi-Shade
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate to Slow

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 Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate
Foliar Base	Cuneate

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Mature Bark Texture	Fissured
Root Type	Underground

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Cream / Off-White, Red
Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence

Flower Location	Axillary, Terminal
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Individual Flower Shape	Saucer-shaped
Inflorescence Type	Panicle
Flowering Period	Every Few Years
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
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. Ashton, P.S. (2004). Dipterocarpaceae. In: Soepadmo, E., Saw L.G. & Chung, R.C.K. (eds) Tree Flora of Sabah Sarawak, vol. 5, pp. 63–388. Malaysia: Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)/Sabah Forestry Department/Sarawak Forestry Department. Ashton, P.S. & Heckenhauer, J. (2022). Tribe Shoreae (Dipterocarpaceae subfamily Dipterocarpoideae) finally dissected. Kew Bull. 77: 885–903. Lemmens, R.H.M.J. and Soerianegara, I. (eds). (1993). Plant Resources of South-East Asia Volume 5 (1). Timber trees: Major commercial timbers. Indonesia: Prosea Foundation. 610 pages. Pooma, R., Poopath, M. and Newman, M.F. (2017). Dipterocarpaceae. In: Santisuk, T. & Balsev, H. (eds) Flora of Thailand, vol. 13, part 4, pp. 557–685. Bangkok: The Forest Herbarium, Royal Forest Department.

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.

Ashton, P.S. (2004). Dipterocarpaceae. In: Soepadmo, E., Saw L.G. & Chung, R.C.K. (eds) Tree Flora of Sabah Sarawak, vol. 5, pp. 63–388. Malaysia: Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)/Sabah Forestry Department/Sarawak Forestry Department.

Ashton, P.S. & Heckenhauer, J. (2022). Tribe Shoreae (Dipterocarpaceae subfamily Dipterocarpoideae) finally dissected. Kew Bull. 77: 885–903.

Lemmens, R.H.M.J. and Soerianegara, I. (eds). (1993). Plant Resources of South-East Asia Volume 5 (1). Timber trees: Major commercial timbers. Indonesia: Prosea Foundation. 610 pages.

Pooma, R., Poopath, M. and Newman, M.F. (2017). Dipterocarpaceae. In: Santisuk, T. & Balsev, H. (eds) Flora of Thailand, vol. 13, part 4, pp. 557–685. Bangkok: The Forest Herbarium, Royal Forest Department.

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Master ID	30399
Species ID	4708
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.