Common Name: Sentang

General Information

Sentang is a large deciduous tree, growing up to 50 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be free of branches for up to 20 metres; up to 125 cm in diameter, without buttresses[, , ].
A multipurpose tree with edible and medicinal uses, as well as a host of other applications such as oil, agroforestry, insecticide and timber. It is harvested from the wild, mainly for local use, but the timber is traded. A beautiful tree , it has been planted along the sides of roads, in botanical and experimental gardens[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines.

Habitat

A plant of lowland monsoon forests, usually occurring in old clearings or secondary forest, but also found in primary dipterocarp forest up to elevations of 350 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	40.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of lowland monsoonal areas in the tropics, where it grows at elevations up to 350 metres[]. It is found in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 2,000 - 4,000mm, and the mean annual temperature is 22 - 27°c[].
Prefers alluvial, medium textured, free draining, acidic soils. It is also found growing on clay soils, granite soils; lateritic soils and limestone[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5[]. Plants are intolerant of waterlogging or frequent flooding[].
Trees commence flowering and fruiting when about 6 - 7 years old[].
Normally the trees are harvested when about 15 years old, when they are about 20 to 30 metres tall, with clear boles 6 - 10 metres tall and 34 - 45cm in diameter[]. On very fertile sites, the trees can reach these dimensions in 8 - 10 years[].
No large scale plantation trials have been attempted in Peninsular Malaysia, but there are a number of small experimental trials. The species has gained in importance as a plantation species due to its fast growth and good timber[]. However, its unknown genetic base could be a major constraint to the large-scale establishment of plantations[].
The species survives well with almost 100% survival in the field and is relatively free from pest and disease problems during the early growth phase. Growth is slow initially but subsequently increases significantly. In plantations, it is planted at a spacing of 2 - 4 metres x 4 metres. Harvest of sentang is usually 5 years after planting[].
Thinning should be done to promote rapid growth and maintain wind firmness[].
Pruning is generally unnecessary, as the tree will self-prune (lower older branches will naturally die and break off)[].
This species is closely related to A. Indica (which has a more westerly distribution), and hybridizes with it in the wild where their ranges overlap[].

Edible Uses

The young shoots, leaves and flowers are eaten raw in salads[], and cooked as a vegetable[].

Medicinal

Seed products of Azadirachta species have been used for a long time in traditional medicine[].

The young shoots and flowers are used to treat stomach diseases and nasal problems[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Sentang is a lesser known, fast growing, evergreen multipurpose tree of agroforestry potential[]. It is a useful shade provider for plantations and can also be planted for soil conservation purposes, reforestation and reforestation[]. It is often mixed with rubber in plantations[].
The leaves are used in agriculture as mulch[].

Other Uses

The tree’s bark contains tannins[].

An oil is obtained from the seed[]. It is used in the manufacture of soap[]. The oil contains caprylic acid 0.30%; n-capric acid 0.96%; palmitic acid 9.8%; stearic acid 4.7%; heneicosanoic acid 0.72%; behenic acid 2.76%; and tricosanoic acid 0.75%[].

The plant contains marrangin (azadirachtin L)[]. This has insecticidal activity, with multiple effects on the development of insects[].

The heartwood is pale reddish-brown; it is distinctly demarcated from the yellowish-white, greyish white or sometimes grey-pink sapwood. The texture is slightly coarse and uneven; the grain straight to interlocked. The wood is light in weight to medium-weight, non-durable to moderately durable. It is generally easy to work, with good boring and planing properties, and takes a good finish. The timber has been used for construction work (joinery, interior finishing and flooring) and for furniture, fancy articles, carving, turnery etc[, ]. Its veneer potential is high[].

Propagation

Seed - the germination rate is 75 - 80% when the seeds are sown directly after harvesting[]. Stored seed quickly loses its viability[]. The seeds germinate in 6 - 23 days[]. Direct dibbling of seeds into a prepared container to the same depth as the seed dimension (about 1 cm deep) and covering with soil is the recommended sowing method[]. Seeds may also be broadcast into seedbeds at scattered spacing, covered with a thin layer of soil up to 1cm deep[]. When seedlings reach 30 - 40 cm tall (usually in 3 or 4 months), they are ready for outplanting[].
The species also can be propagated vegetatively by rooting cuttings using juvenile seedlings or rejuvenile materials from root reservoirs[].
Spacing in seedbeds is 20 cm between rows and 5 cm within rows. After germination the seedlings require at least 50% shade initially and are gradually exposed to full sunlight when about 30 cm tall. Seedlings can be transferred into large polypots (5 x 8 cm) when two pairs of leaves have developed. In Thailand the recommended potting medium is a mixture of coconut husk and topsoil at a 3:1 ratio, incorporated with a controlled-release fertiliser such as Osmocote at 0.5 g per pot, which is about enough for 3 months or until seedlings are ready for planting out[].
Seedlings are normally ready for planting out after 6 months. At least one month before planting out, all seedlings need hardening-off by reducing the water regime and exposing seedlings to full sunlight[].
Root cuttings are possible for industrial scale A. Excelsa establishment. This is the best way to guarantee an adequate supply of clonal material from desirable donor trees. Over 90% rooting rates have been obtained when cuttings are taken from coppicing shoots[]. Rootlets 0.3 - 0.5 cm diameter and 3 - 5 cm long have been used successfully as propagules[].
Tissue culture for mass propagation has not been demonstrated to be viable for large-scale seedling production[].

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