Common Name:

General Information

Dipterocarpus kunstleri is a large tree growing up to 50 metres tall[]. The straight, cylindrical bole often branches from low down, it can be 136cm in diameter with a few small buttresses up to 1 metre high[].
The tree is exploited commercially for its timber[, ].
Because of habitat loss, the plant has been classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Habitat

An upper canopy tree of undisturbed mixed dipterocarp forest at elevations up to 100 metres. Often on alluvial sites, also on hillsides and ridges with sandy to clayey soils. In secondary forests usually present as a pre-disturbance remnant tree[, ]

Properties

Conservation Status	Critically Endangered
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	50.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A tree of the moist lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 100 metres[].
Young trees grow best in the shade of the forest, but become increasingly light-demanding as they grow larger[].
Members of this genus generally only regenerate naturally in the shade of the forest. Seedlings and saplings can persist in dense forest shade for many years. In their first 2 years the young plants cannot tolerate major openings in the canopy, but after they are well established (about 120cm tall) the canopy can be opened up around them to speed up their growth[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The stem contains resin[, ]. The resin is obtained by cutting a hole in the trunk near the base (about 90 - 150cm from the ground) and then dipping out the resin with a spoon as it collects there. To prolong the flow, a fire made from dead leaves or brushwood is made in the hole at intervals - this burns off the dried resinous film and allows the resin to flow again[, ].


The grey-brown to reddish-brown wood is strong, fairly hard and heavy[]. It is used for construction[].

The tree is a source of keruing timber[, ]. We do not have specific information for this plant, but a general description of the wood is as follows:-

The heartwood varies from light to dark red-brown or brown to dark brown, sometimes with a purple tint; it is usually well defined from the 5 - 7cm wide band of gray or buff sapwood. The texture is moderately coarse; grain straight or shallowly interlocked; lustre low; there is a strong resinous odour when freshly cut, it is without taste. The wood is moderately heavy to heavy; moderately hard; somewhat durable, being resistant to dry wood borers, fairly resistant to fungi but susceptible to termites, though silica content may be high, resistance to marine borers is erratic. It seasons slowly, with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is poorly stable to moderately stable in service. Silica content is variable, generally less than 0.5%. The wood generally saws and machines well, particularly when green; blunting of cutters can be moderate to severe due to silica content, stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; it is sometimes difficult to glue; resin adhering to machinery and tools may be troublesome and can also interfere with finishes; nailing and screwing are good, but require pre-boring; gluing is correct, but care is required because of the resin. The wood is used for general construction work, carpentry, panelling, joinery, framework for boats, flooring, pallets, chemical processing equipment, veneer and plywood, suggested for railroad crossties if treated[, ].

Propagation

Seed -

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