Common Name:

General Information

Falcatifolium falciforme is an evergreen tree, usually growing 5 - 12 metres tall, though exceptionally to 36 metres and sometimes no more than a shrub 1.5 metres tall. The bole can vary from 4 - 40cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is traded, along with several related species, as 'sempilor' timber[].
Although this species is widespread and common in at least the higher altitude habitats, there is a suspicion that in certain lower altitude forests on more fertile soils it would have been affected by logging and deforestation due to agricultural expansion. The extent of its decline is probably just below the threshold for Vulnerable. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Indonesia

Habitat

Locally common along ridges as a bushy tree, or in the subcanopy of primary rain-forest, often on podsol sands and kerangas, occasionally on deeper fertile soils where it can be an emergent forest giant; at elevations from 300 - 2,100 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Falcatifolium falciforme is found in regions where the mean annual temperature is 22.0°c, with an average minimum in the coldest month of 17.3°c. It can tolerate occasional, short-lived temperatures falling as low as between -1°c and +4.4°c. The mean annual precipitation is 2,813 mm[].

Although mainly found at the higher regions of its range, occasionally it is found as a co-dominant or more or less emergent large tree in lowland to sub-montane primary rainforest on more fertile soils; these individuals are scattered and rare and may be associated with episodic disturbance and succession events, which initially led to more abundant conifers, most of which were in later successional stages replaced by angiosperms[]

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The rather rare large trees of this species will be logged together with other podocarps when growing outside protected areas. Its wood is traded as 'sempilor' together with that of Dacrydium, Dacrycarpus and Phyllocladus. Falcatifolium wood is light and easy to work; it is used in light construction, doors, windows, joinery, furniture, interior finishing, veneers as well as boat masts and crates. The wood is not durable and therefore unsuitable for work that will be exposed to outdoor conditions[].
The wood of various species of Falcatifolium is traded as 'sempilor' timber. We do not have a specific description for the wood of this species, but the generic description of sempilor timber is as follows:-
The heartwood is buff in colour, sometimes with a pink tinge or golden brown; it is not differentiated from the sapwood. The texture is very fine and even; the grain straight. The wood is reputed to be weak; it is light to moderately heavy in weight; it is not durable and is subject to drywood termite attacks. It seasons well without serious degrade; shrinkage is very high; a slight to moderate twisting may occasionally occur. The wood works very easily; it produces a smooth and somewhat lustrous surface; gluing, nailing and peeling properties are satisfactory. A softwood, it should be suitable for decorative works and can be used for panelling, partitioning, veneers, plywood, joinery and furniture making[].

Propagation

The seed can be sown at any time of the year in a sandy soil in a warm greenhouse, though it is probably best sown as soon as it is ripe[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until large enough to plant out.
Cuttings of half-ripe terminal shoots, 5 - 10cm long[].

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