Afzelia javanica (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Afzelia javanica (Miq.) J. Léonard

Protologue: Reinwardtia 1: 63 (1950).

Synonyms

• Pahudia javanica Miq. (1855),
• Intsia puberula Miq. (1860),
• Pahudia puberula (Miq.) Meijer Drees (1938).

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: (ki)julang, katarum (Java), merbau (Sumatra).

Distribution

North-eastern Sumatra and western Java.

Uses

The timber is used locally, sometimes as a substitute for merbau ( Intsia spp.).

Observations

• A medium-sized to fairly large tree of up to 42 m tall, buttresses large, over 5 m high.
• Leaves with 4-8 pairs of leaflets, leaflets 3.5-12.5 cm × 2.0-5.5 cm, rounded to acute or shortly acuminate at apex, pubescent on the lower surface when young.
• Fertile stamens 2.5-6.5 cm long, style 4-5.5 cm long.
• Mature pod 7.5-15 cm × 4-7.5 cm, the ventral suture straight, the dorsal one strongly curved.

A. javanica occurs on clayey non-inundated soils and is locally common in both primary and secondary forest up to 500 m altitude. It is planted for local use up to 800 m altitude. The species is divided into two subspecies occurring on Java and Sumatra respectively. The one from Sumatra (subsp. longiflora de Wit) differs from subsp. javanica by having more leaflets per leaf and longer stamens.

Selected sources

35, 183, 184, 318, 421, 477.

Authors

M.S.M. Sosef (selection of species)

Main genus page

• Afzelia