Common Name:

General Information

Aetoxylon sympetalum is a tree growing around 18 - 40 metres tall. The trunk is straight, sometimes with a fluted base, and around 30 - 60cm in diameter[].
This tree is a locally important source of Agar wood, a rare and famous, resin-containing heartwood that is produced mainly from old and diseased trees of several species of the family Thymelaeaceae, especially the genus Aquilaria, and in particular Aquilaria malaccensis[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia (Sarawak), Indonesia (Kalimantan)

Habitat

Lowland mixed dipterocarp and kerangas forests; at elevations up to 100 metres[]. Locally rather common in low, level, sandy ground, in primary non-inundated rain-forest[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	30.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The resin-containing heartwood of older trees infected with fungus is highly valued for its fragrance and is used for making joss sticks and extracting the essential oil for use in expensive perfumes etc.
This tree is a locally important source of Agar wood, a rare and famous, resin-containing heartwood that is produced mainly from old and diseased trees of several species of the family Thymelaeaceae, especially the genus Aquilaria[]. The wood of this species is harder than that of Aquilaria, and is often said to be scentless before being burnt, but when burned it gives forth a fragrance similar to that of Agar wood[].
The fragrance produced by the burning agar wood has been highly valued for thousands of years, and its use as incense for ceremonial purposes in Buddhism, Confucianism and Hinduism is widespread throughout eastern and southern Asia. In Thailand it is put into funeral pyres, while in Japan, the incense is used in tea ceremonies[].
Wood only partly saturated with resin but still fragrant, and occasionally also the wood remaining after distillation, is made into sticks called 'joss-sticks' or 'agarbattis' which are burnt as incense[].
The incense is also used as an insect repellent[].

Agar-wood oil is an essential oil obtained by water and steam distillation of agar wood. It is used in luxury perfumery for application in e.g. Oriental and woody-aldehydic bases, ‘chypres’ and ‘fougères’. It produces interesting odour notes with clove oil, e.g. In carnation bases. The oil is so rare and expensive that it is only produced on request[].
Agar-wood oil is a yellow to dark amber, viscous liquid with a characteristic balsamic and woody odour. Its aroma has some resemblance with vetiverol or styrax and has a sweetness similar to that of sandalwood oil. Its odour is long-lasting and exhibits a good tenacity in applications[].

A strong fibre obtained from the bark can be used for making rope[].

Propagation

Seed -

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