Dipterocarpus glandulosus
Thwaites
Dipterocarpaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Dipterocarpus glandulosus is a large, evergreen tree.
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood and resin.
Populations have been eliminated from many areas because of excessive tapping for resin. Regeneration is also observed to be poor. The plant is classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
E. Asia - Sri Lanka.
Habitat
An emergent tree of wet evergreen forests in moist low country[
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
884- Title
- The World List of Threatened Trees
- Publication
-
- Author
- Oldfield S.; Lusty C.; and MacKinven A.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- World Conservation Press; Cambridge UK
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 1-899628-10 X
- Description
- A list of the trees on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Plant Species in 1998, often giving some information on habitat and the reasons for being on the list. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Critically Endangered |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 0.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Found wild on deep, well-drained, moist soils[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The blackish resinous oil, 'Dorana tel' is a good substitute for Gurjun Balsam, and is used in the Leper Hospital at Colombo[
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. This probably refers to external use on the skin[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Other Uses
A damar resin is obtained from the trunk. Known as 'dorana oil', it is used in making paints and varnishes, and also has medicinal applications. Mixed with other organic substances, it was used to paint murals in ancient temples in Sri Lanka[
885- Title
- Non-Wood Forest Products in 15 Countries of Tropical Asia - An Overview.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Vantomme P.; Markkula A.; and Leslie R.N. (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/forestry/FOP/FOPW/NWFP/nwfp-e.stm
- Publisher
- FAO Regional Office; Bangkok.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 974-90666-0-X
- Description
- Some general information on the useful, non-tree plants of forests in varions tropical countries in Asia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Dammar is a hard resin, obtained from various trees of Southeast Asia. Traditionally, it is used for purposes such as caulking boats and baskets, as an adhesive, a medicine, as a fuel for torches and sometimes in foods. Dammar has many commercial applications, though many of these uses are less important nowadays due to the advent of synthetic materials. Commercially, it is an ingredient of inks, lacquers, oil paints, varnishes etc, and is used as a glazing agent in foods[
891- Title
- Gums, Resins and Latexes of Plant Origins.
- Publication
- Non-Wood Forest Products 6.
- Author
- Coppen J.J.W.
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/docrep/
- Publisher
- FAO, United Nations; Rome
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 92-5-103757-4
- Description
- A handbook published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, it provides good basic information on the sources and uses of the various gums, resins and latexes. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Harvesting of the resin commences when the bole is around 25cm in diameter (approx 20 years old). Triangular cuts (becoming circular with age) are arranged in vertical rows around the trunk. The cuts are several centimetres wide at first, but become enlarged at every tapping and eventually become holes of 15 - 20cm in depth and width. The average number of holes for a tree about 30 metres tall and 60 - 80cm in diameter is 9 - 11 in each of 4 - 5 vertical rows. For the higher holes, the tapper climbs the tree supported by a rattan belt and using the lower holes as footholds.
The exuded resin is allowed to dry on the tree before it is collected. The frequency with which the tree is visited to refreshen the cut varies from once a week to once a month, depending on how far the tree is from the village. Tapping can continue for 30 years[
891- Title
- Gums, Resins and Latexes of Plant Origins.
- Publication
- Non-Wood Forest Products 6.
- Author
- Coppen J.J.W.
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/docrep/
- Publisher
- FAO, United Nations; Rome
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 92-5-103757-4
- Description
- A handbook published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, it provides good basic information on the sources and uses of the various gums, resins and latexes. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The colour of this wood is a dull plum red, with a very hard, close texture, harder and closer grain, and showing a better character of heartwood, than is general in the Dipterocarpaceae[
719- Title
- A Manual of the Timbers of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Howard A.L.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- MacMillan and Co.; London.
- Year
- 1934
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent and comprehensive book on timbers. Rather dated, but still a main source of information for many of the less known woods. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
