Back
Dipterocarpus gracilis Blume
| Family Name: | Dipterocarpaceae |
| Common Name: | Keruing Kesat, Keruing Kesugoi |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 50 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Andamans, Chittagong, Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, West Java, Borneo and the Philippines. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a large tree that can grow to 50 m tall, with buttress roots. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | Bark is pale grey to mid grey brown, smooth with lenticels when young and become rough and scaly as it mature. |
| Foliage | Leaves are elliptic to oblong shaped (8 – 18 cm long and 4 – 10 cm wide) with a shortly acuminate leaf tip and an obtuse leaf base. Each leaf has 12—20 pairs of secondary veins. Young leaves are densely covered with golden brown hairs. As the leaf matures, only the mid vein on the upper surface, leaf margin and petiole are covered in golden hairs. Stipule is narrowly lanceolate and densely covered in golden brown hairs. |
| Flowers | Inflorescence (9 cm long) occurs at the end of the twigs. Flower is about 3.5 – 4 cm long, cream coloured with pink stripe at the centre of each petal. Flower comprises of 30 stamens, flask - shaped ovary and linear anthers which are tipped by slender tapering appendage that is about two times as long as the anther. |
| Fruit | Fruit has 2 large winged-like calyx lobes (10 – 14 cm long and 1.5 – 2.5 cm wide) and 3 shorter wings (1.5 – 2 cm long and 1 cm wide). Nut is globose (2 cm diameter), not ridged and smooth. |
| Habitat | It is found in lowland rainforest, up to 800m altitude. |
| Associated Flora | A natural hybrid between D. gracilis and D. costatus has been observed in Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: Resin is used as a varnish and for illumination. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens |
|---|
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate to Slow |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, Pink |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|
References
| References | Ashton, P.S. 1982. Dipterocarpaceae. . Flora Malesiana Series I. 9 (1). 237-552 Gardner, S., Sidisunthorn, P., & Chayamarit, K.. 2015. Forest Trees of Southern Thailand. Volume 1. . Bangkok: Kobfai Publishing Project. 768pp |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 33299 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 7713 |
| 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. |
