The generic name of this plant is often spelled Engelhardtia. The original spelling, when the name was first published by Blume in 1825 - 26 was Engelhardia, although this was later corrected to Engelhardtia by Blume in 1829. There still seems to be disagreement over which version of the name is correct, but at present we are following GRIN and Tropicos, who both use the original spelling[].

Common Name:

General Information

Engelhardia spicata is an evergreen to briefly deciduous tree with a dense, rounded crowm; it can grow up to 40 metres tall, though is usually much smaller[]. It sometimes has small buttresses up to 3 metres high[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for mainly local use as a medicine and source of materials. This species belongs to a group of timbers known in the trade as 'Dungun Paya', and the wood of these species is sometimes traded as a group. The tree is grown as a pioneer plant in reforestation projects in Thailand.
The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

The bark and the leaves are rich in tannin,. They are used as a fish intoxicant[, ].
The young shoots are poisonous to livestock. Ingestion of the leaves in quantity results in flatulence, blood urination and even death of the livestock. A mixture of lime juice, molasses, maize flour and turmeric is given to the poisoned animal as an antidote

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - China, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea.

Habitat

Scrub or woodland[]. Dense, primary forests, more common on mountain slopes or in valleys from near sea level to elevations of 2,500 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in tropical and subtropical areas.

A fast-growing tree[].
Trees coppice well[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A decoction of the roots is usd in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery[].

The bark contains tannins and is astringent. It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery[].
A paste made from the bark is applied topically to treat bone fractures

The root and leaves are used as an antiseptic and are rubbed on teeth and gums to make them healthy[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is planted as a pioneer species in northern Thailand in reforestation projects to restore native woodland - it is planted in degraded woodland and open areas in a mix with various other species that all have the ability to grow fast; produce dense, weed-suppressing crowns; and attract seed-dispersing wildlife, particularly birds and bats[].

Other Uses

The bark is a source of tannins[, ].
The stem bark is used in making dyes

The wood is not durable. It is used for light, indoor construction and for making furniture[, ]. The wood is used for light construction, planking, mouldings, canoe building[].

We do not have any more specific information on the wood of this species, but it belongs to a group of timbers known in the trade as 'Dungun Paya'[]. The following is a general description of dungun paya wood:-
The heartwood is grey-brown with a core that has a dark streaky colour; it merges gradually into the pale grey-brown sapwood. The texture is moderately coarse and even; the grain is straight, shallowly interlocked or sometimes wavy. The wood is soft to moderately hard, not very durable. It is easy to work but, being a fairly light timber it should not be used in situations where excessive strength and impact forces are required. Uses of the timber include veneer and plywood, turnery, moulding, tool handle for non-impact purposes, domestic flooring and general utility furniture. The corewood is decorative and it may be used for small ornamental items[, ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as ripe[].

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