Vatica borneensis (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Vatica borneensis Burck

Protologue: Ann. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 6: 230 (1887).

Synonyms

• Vatica urbanii Heim (1891),
• Sunaptea borneensis (Burck) Heim (1892),
• Sunaptea urbanii (Heim) Heim (1892).

Vernacular names

• Brunei: resak kemudi.

Distribution

North-western Borneo (Sarawak, Brunei).

Uses

The timber is used as resak.

Observations

• A fairly large tree, up to 35 m tall with straight, cylindrical bole up to 65 cm in diameter and small buttresses.
• Leaves elliptical, 6-10 cm × 2.5-5 cm, with 7-9 pairs of secondary veins, glabrescent, petiole 15-25 mm long.
• Inflorescences up to 5 cm long.
• Flower buds up to 10 mm long.
• Nut globose, to 10 mm long, surrounded by 2 longer and 3 shorter fruit calyx lobes, all free to the base.

V. borneensis is locally frequent on leached sandy soils on ridges and coastal hills up to 900 m altitude. The wood is hard and durable, with a density of 945-1045 kg/m³ at 15% moisture content.

Selected sources

30, 89, 748.

Main genus page

• Vatica

Authors

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