Gymnostoma sumatranum (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Gymnostoma sumatranum (Jungh. ex de Vriese) L.A.S. Johnson

Family: Casuarinaceae

Synonyms

• Casuarina sumatrana Jungh. ex de Vriese.

Vernacular names

• Sumatran ru (En)
• Indonesia: cemara sumatra (general), anturmangan (Batak Toba, North Sumatra), pitungang pipi (western Sumatra)
• Malaysia: rhu Sumatra (Peninsular), rhu bukit, rhu ronang (Sarawak)
• Philippines: maribuhok (general, Bisaya)
• Thailand: son pattaawia (central).

Distribution

Sumatra, Borneo and the Philippines; sometimes planted in other South-East Asian regions.

Uses

Cultivated for fuelwood in Sarawak, where it is also a popular ornamental. It also yields excellent charcoal. The timber is used in the Philippines, but supplies are limited. Also planted as an ornamental. It has been proposed to be grown as a Christmas tree.

Observations

• Monoecious tree, 5-10 m tall. Twigs needle-like, pale green, 5-40 cm long, articulate, articles 2--6 mm.
• Leaves reduced, in whorls of 4 tiny scales.
• Fruit a compound cone-like structure, 2-3 cm in diameter.

G. sumatranum occurs on lowland podsols; it can fix nitrogen.

Selected sources

• Backer, C.A. & Bakhuizen van den Brink Jr., R.C., 1963-1968. Flora of Java. 3 volumes. Wolters-Noordhoff, Groningen, the Netherlands. 647, 641, 761 pp.
• Brown, W.H., 1951-1957. Useful plants of the Philippines. Reprint of the 1941-1943 edition. 3 volumes. Technical Bulletin No 10. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Bureau of Printing, Manila, the Philippines. 590, 513, 507 pp.
• Reyes, L.J., 1938. Philippine woods. Technical Bulletin No 7. Commonwealth of the Philippines, Department of Agriculture and Commerce. Bureau of Printing, Manila, the Philippines. 536 pp. + 88 plates.

Authors

• M.S.M. Sosef & L.J.G. van der Maesen (Auxiliary plants)

• M.S.M. Sosef (general part, selection of species) (Timbers)