Calophyllum molle (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Calophyllum molle King

Protologue: Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 59: 177 (1890).

Vernacular names

• Thailand: tanghon lawkaw (Trang).

Distribution

Southern Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia; perhaps also in Borneo.

Uses

The timber is used as bintangor.

Observations

• A medium-sized tree up to 30 m tall, with bole up to 50 cm in diameter, without buttresses; twigs obscurely 4-angled, terminal bud plump to elliptical, 4-10 mm long.
• Leaves ovate to suboblong or subelliptical, 6-18.5 cm long, rounded to cuneate at base, acute or acuminate at apex, with (8-)11-17 veins per 5 mm, rusty tomentose beneath.
• Inflorescences axillary, unbranched, 3-5-flowered; flowers with 4 (rarely 6) tepals.
• Fruit subspherical to ellipsoid, 22-34 mm long, with thick, compact outer layer, brownish.

C. molle grows in mixed dipterocarp forest, often on ridges and hillsides, up to 700 m altitude. The wood has a density of 600-720 kg/m³ at 15% moisture content.

Selected sources

100, 190, 648, 779.

Main genus page

• Calophyllum

Authors

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