Calophyllum papuanum (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Calophyllum papuanum Lauterb.

Protologue: Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58: 9 (1922).

Distribution

The Moluccas (Morotai) and New Guinea.

Uses

The timber is traded in Papua New Guinea as "calophyllum". It is used in building.

Observations

• A medium-sized to large, probably dioecious tree up to 40 m tall with bole up to 90 cm in diameter, usually without buttresses but sometimes with buttresses; twigs (2-)4-6-angled, terminal bud strongly flattened, 7-15 mm long.
• Leaves ovate to subobovate, subcuneiform or suboblong, (2.5-)6.5-17(-22) cm long, rounded to cuneate at base, rounded to subacute at apex, with 5-12 veins per 5 mm.
• Inflorescences axillary, usually unbranched, (1-)3-7(-11)-flowered; flowers usually with 8 tepals.
• Fruit spherical, 2-4 cm long, with thick, compact outer layer having air spaces near stone, greenish.

C. papuanum is usually a canopy tree of lowland or montane forest; it sometimes grows in swampy forest and occurs up to 1850 m altitude. The wood has a density of 490-650 kg/m³ at 15% moisture content and is pinkish-red to reddish-brown. See also the table on wood properties.

Selected sources

67, 359, 648, 702.

Main genus page

• Calophyllum

Authors

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