Common Name:

General Information

Fagraea elliptica is a tree that can grow up to 45 metres tall, though is sometimes a large shrub. The bole can be 15 - 150cm or more in diameter, sometimes with buttresses up to 100cm high[, ].
The tree is commonly harvested from the wild for its wood, which is an important source of 'tembesu' timber and is used locally and also traded.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea.

Habitat

Both dry and marshy or temporarily inundated soils, mostly on sand, often along rivers, in humid forests, open forests, shrubberies, heath forest, grass wastes, rocky strand forest, also as a shrub on open dry hill-tops; sea-level up to 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	20.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant (part not specified) is used to treat stomach aches[].

Other Uses

The latex found under the skin of the fruits is often used as an adhesive[].

The wood is used for house and bridge building[].
We have no more information on the wood for this species. However, the following is a general description of the wood for members of this genus:-
The heartwood is yellowish-brown to light brown, darkening upon exposure to a deep golden- or orange-brown; it is not clearly demarcated from the generally lighter coloured sapwood. The texture is variable, from fine to somewhat coarse; the grain is straight to irregular; the wood is lustrous; it has a distinct aromatic and somewhat acid odour when freshly cut, but this does not persist upon seasoning. The heartwood is reported to be very durable in ground contact and very resistant to termite attack; resistance to marine borer attack is questionable. It is reported to season slowly, otherwise it dries with little or no degrade. In Fiji quartersawing is suggested to minimize surface checking. Considering the high density, the wood is easy to saw and machine; it takes a good finish; some species are rather abrasive, however, and dull cutting edges; it is a good carving timber and turns well. The wood is used for purposes such as heavy construction, flooring, turnery, carvings, printing dies, specialty items (such as rulers, T-squares, straight edges), railroad crossties, boat construction[].

Propagation

Seed -

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