| DESCRIPTION: It is a tree of up to 40 m tall. The bole is straight, branchless for up to 20-30 m and with a diameter of up to 150 cm, buttresses prominent. Bark surface with irregular section fissures, grey or light brown. Leaves elliptical-oblong to ovate, thin, leathery, 6.5-15 x 4-8 cm. USE: The bark yields an usually clear, pale yellow damar (resin). The resin is used principally in paints, varnishes and linoleum industries; it is also used in cosmetics, as a food additive and for medication. The timber is lightweight used for a wide variety of purposes, such as door and window frames, posts, beams, joists, rafters, planking, light flooring, ceiling, furniture, etc. Also used for pulp in the manufacture of paper and as firewood. Useful tree component in an agroforestry system for resin production. Other useful trees, such as clove, are simultaneously planted with damar trees so that although the latter largely dominate, the resulting stand is multilayered, comprising different useful plants such as fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants. Roots are well fortified by typical mycorrhizal association, which enables them to absorb and accumulate nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium more rapidly and for longer periods than non-mycorrhizal roots. GROWING PERIOD: Perennial. COMMON NAMES: Manggasinoro. FURTHER INF: It is confined to tropical climates and occurs in primary and secondary forest on dry or periodically inundated places on flat land or on slopes up to 500 m in altitude. Naturally found in some forests of Sumatra which has no dry season, and in central Java. The natural vegetation of the area is typical primary and secondary lowland rainforests. Soils vary from quite deep loamy alkaline soils to sticky acid clays. Grows best on deep loamy soils. |
