Sindora sumatrana (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Sindora sumatrana Miq.

Protologue: Fl. Ind. Bat., Suppl. 1(2): 288 (1861).

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: sindur, tampar hantu (Palembang, Sumatra).

Distribution

Sumatra; possibly also Bangka.

Uses

The timber is used as sepetir, particularly for furniture. The fruits are collected in Sumatra and traded throughout Indonesia as "saparantu" to be used in medicines against fever, serious bleeding of the uterus and skin diseases. The wood-oil is used for caulking boats.

Observations

• A medium-sized to fairly large tree.
• Leaves with 6 leaflets, leaflets 6-11.5 cm × 2.5-6.5 cm, leathery and glabrous.
• Pod circular to broadly elliptical, up to 4 cm long, with many short but stout spines having a swollen base.

S. sumatrana grows on periodically inundated, sandy soils and is locally common. The timber is often flamed and the density is probably rather high: 700-800 kg/m³ at 15% moisture content.

Selected sources

186, 318, 319.

Main genus page

• Sindora (Timbers)

Authors

• M.S.M. Sosef (selection of species)