Common Name:

General Information

Shorea macrophylla is a stocky tree with a dense, oblong to hemispherical crown; it can grow up to 45 metres tall. The bole is often mis-shapen and can have branches from fairly low down; it can be up to 150cm in diameter with stout buttresses up to 2 metres high[, ].
The seed of this species is a principal source of a vegetable fat called 'tangkawang' or 'Borneo tallow'; or sometimes 'Illipe', though this latter name is perhaps more properly applied to the fat obtained from the plant Madhuca longifolia[, ]. The seed is usually harvested from the wild, but the tree is also occasionally planted as a crop in Borneo[]. The timber is also valuable, being a source of 'light red meranti', and both products are commonly exported.
The tree has been listed as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2010)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia (the tree is endemic to the island of Borneo).

Habitat

A canopy tree, locally abundant in mixed dipterocarp forest, growing on clay-rich periodically flooded alluvium and river banks, uncommon on hillsides, at elevations below 600 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	38.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of lowland areas in the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 600 metres[].
Plants are tolerant of periodically inundated soils[].
This species is one of the fastest growing trees in the genus[].
Yields of 1,138 kg/ha of dried kernels have been reported[].
The tree does not start to bear fruit until it is 18 - 25 years old[].

Edible Uses

An edible fat obtained from the seeds has similar uses to Cacao butter (obtained from Theobroma spp.)[].

Medicinal

An edible fat obtained from the seed is easily absorbed by the skin. It can be used to treat skin problems and is often used as a carrier to apply other substances to the skin[].

Other Uses

The seeds of many species in this genus, including this species, yield an oil that has an unusually high melting point and is solid at room temperature[, , , ]. Average yields range from 45 - 70% according to species[]. The fat is somewhat similar to Cacao butter (obtained from Theobroma spp.) and can be used in a variety of ways, often combined with cacao butter. In addition to it being edible, it has medicinal uses and can be used in making soap, candles, polishes and cosmetics[, ]. The obovoid seeds are around 6cm long and 4cm wide[].

The tree provides a high quality timber[]. The wood is a source of 'Light Red Meranti'. We do not have any more specific information, but a general description of light red meranti follows:-

The heartwood is light red to pink or pink-brown, with white resin streaks; it is clearly demarcated from the 5 - 8cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain interlocked with a ribbon-like aspect; the surface is lustrous. The wood is light in weight, soft, moderately durable, being resistant to dry wood borers, somewhat resistant to fungi and susceptible to termites. The wood seasons well with a slight risk of checking or distortion; once dry it is stable to moderately stable in service. The wood works well with normal tools, though the tools need to be kept sharp because it has a tendency towards woolliness; it generally finishes fairly well, though filling is recommended; screwing and nailing are good; gluing is correct. The wood is used for several purposes including interior and exterior panelling and joinery, light carpentry, boxes and crates, veneer etc[].

Propagation

We have no specific information for this species - the information below is a general guide for the genus.

Seed - best sown as soon as possible. It does not require pre-treatment, but it is recommended to soak the seed for 12 hours prior to sowing[]. The seeds are sown in seedbeds, where they are covered with a mixture of sand and soil (1:1) or with a thin layer of sawdust[]. Germination of fresh seeds is usually good and rapid. About two weeks after germination, when the seedlings are 5 - 6cm tall, they are potted up into individual containers about 15 x 23cm with good drainage holes at their base[]. It is normally recommended to use a mixture of forest soil and sand (at a ratio of 3:1) as the potting medium in order to introduce the appropriate mycorrhiza to the roots. The seedlings are placed in
50 - 60% sunlight and watered twice daily[].
Seedlings can be planted out when 30 - 40cm tall - harden the seedlings off in full sunlight for one month prior to planting[].

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