Palaquium macrocarpum (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Palaquium macrocarpum Burck

Protologue: Ann. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 5: 32 (1886).

Synonyms

• Croixia macrocarpa (Burck) Baehni (1965).

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: pintek kayu, punti kayu, nyatu kayu balam (Sumatra).

Distribution

Peninsular Malaysia (rare) and Sumatra; possibly also Sulawesi and the Moluccas.

Uses

The timber may be used as nyatoh or bitis. It is used in Sumatra for boats. The fruits are edible.

Observations

• A medium-sized to large tree up to 45 m tall, with straight cylindrical bole up to 90 cm in diameter but usually much less.
• Leaves more or less clustered at tip of twigs, obovate, elliptical or oblong, with distinct but slender, transverse tertiary veins, sparsely hairy but glabrescent beneath.
• Flowers usually in 5-9-flowered clusters, borne on 5-13 mm long pedicels.
• Fruit ovoid or ellipsoid, large (5-11 cm long), glabrous.

P. macrocarpum is found in forest, often in freshwater swamps, up to 1000 m altitude. It has probably often been confused with other Palaquium species.

Selected sources

36, 102, 318, 743, 779.

Main genus page

• Palaquium (Timbers)

Authors

• R.H.M.J. Lemmens (selection of species)