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Rubroshorea ovalis (Korth.) P.S.Ashton & J.Heck. subsp. ovalis
| Family Name: | Dipterocarpaceae |
| Synonyms: | Shorea ovalis (Korth.) Blume, Vatica ovalis Korth. |
| Common Name: | Meranti Kepong, Kepong Labu, Seraya Kepong |
Rubroshorea ovalis subsp. ovalis, also known as Meranti Kepong, is a critically endangered tree in Singapore that can reach up to 50 m tall. It has cream-coloured flowers which are tinged pink at the base of the petal and winged fruits. The wood is used in light construction including light-duty flooring and veneer.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Broad / Mushroom / Hemispherical |
| Maximum Height | 50 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Borneo. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree, up to 50 m tall, with buttresses, up to 1.5 m tall. The trunk can reach up to 1.3 m diameter. The bark is V-section fissured. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The leaves are oblong or narrowly ovate, measuring 10 – 18 cm long and 3 – 7 cm wide, and have a leathery texture. Each leaf has (20 –) 22 – 25 pairs of lateral veins. Both the lateral veins and midrib are prominently terete on the underside of the leaf. The leaf tip is tapering, up to 0.8 cm long, while the leaf base is obtuse. Domatia are likely absent. The leaf stalk (petiole) is 0.7 – 0.9 cm long and covered with dense hairs. Stipule is ovate, measuring up to 1.3 cm long and 0.7 cm wide, and sub-persistent. |
| Flowers | The flowers occur in a cluster (panicle) at the axis or terminal end of the branches. Each inflorescence is up to 18 cm long and bearing up to 8 flowers. The flower buds are small (up to 0.5 cm long). The flowers are small, with cream-coloured petals tinged pink at the base. Each flower has 50 - 70 stamens with elliptic to oblong anthers. The connective appendage is short or vestigial. The ovary is narrowly conical. |
| Fruit | The fruit is winged and dry. Each fruit comprises of three longer calyx lobes, measuring up to 11 cm long and 1.4 cm wide, two shorter lobes (up to 6 cm long and 0.4 cm wide) and one oval-shaped nut (up to 2.2 cm long and 1.3 cm wide) with a short tapering style remnant at the tip (about 2.5 mm long). |
| Habitat | It is found in rainforests, up to 500 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, in Latin, means oval, referring to the leaf shape. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Timber & Products: It produces light red meranti timber which is used in light construction including light-duty flooring, shelves, musical instruments, coffins, toys, wooden matches and plywood, both as face and core veneer. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Reforestation |
|---|
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 |
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 Base | Rounded / Obtuse |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
|---|---|
| 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. & 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. |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 30410 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 4719 |
| 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. |
