Shorea astylosa (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Shorea astylosa Foxw.

Protologue: Philipp. Journ. Sc., Bot. 13: 188, pl. 5 (1918).

Synonyms

• Shorea ciliata Foxw. (1918) non King.

Vernacular names

• Philippines: yakal (Tagalog, Bisaya), yakal mabolo (Tagalog).

Distribution

The Philippines.

Uses

The timber is used as balau for high-grade constructions. Wood extractives are reported to have tumour-inhibiting properties.

Observations

• A medium-sized tree up to 30 m tall with bole of up to 120 cm in diameter.
• Leaves ovate, 6.5-12 cm × 2.5-6.5 cm with 8-9 pairs of secondary veins and a dark green petiole; petals narrow.
• Stamens 32, ovary with prominent stylopodium.

S. astylosa occurs locally in primary evergreen dipterocarp forest at low altitudes but is now endangered. The density of the wood is about 900 kg/m³ at 15% moisture content.

Selected sources

175, 258, 579, 748.

Main genus page

• Shorea (balau)

Authors

• M.S.M. Sosef (selection of species)