The genus Tarrietia has been recognized as distinct by some botanists (for example Van Steenis, C.G.G.J. 1960. Bibliography. Flora Malesiana Bulletin 3: 772.), whilst others (such as 1959a. A monograph of the genus Heritiera Dry. (Sterculiaceae) (including Argyrodendron F. v. M. and Tarrietia Bl.). Penerbitan, Madjelis Ilmu Pengetahutan Indonesia 1: 1-121.) have included it as a synonym of Heritiera. We are following this latter course, in line with Wilkie P. et al; Phylogenetic Relationships within the Subfamily Sterculioideae (Malvaceae/Sterculiaceae-Sterculieae) Using the Chloroplast Gene ndhF; Systematic Botany, (2006), 31(1): pp. 160-170[].

Common Name: Lumbayao

General Information

Heritiera javanica is an evergreen tree growing 30 - 45 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be unbranched for up to 20 metres; around 60 - 80cm in diameter, with exceptional specimens to 120cm; usually with thin, hard, buttressed roots 100 - 200cm high and 150cm out[, , ].
The tree is a source of 'mengkulang' timber; it is often harvested from the wild for its timber, which is traded commercially. It is sometimes used as a plantation species in southeast Asia[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea.

Habitat

An upper canopy tree in moist, semi-deciduous to evergreen lowland forest at elevations below 800 metres[, ]. Scattered, but in some quantity, in dipterocarp forest on or near the tops of the ridges of the low coastal hills[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	30.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist, tropical lowlands, where it is found at elevations below 800 metres[]. It grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the region of 2,000mm[].
Plants in the wild are usually found growing on well-drained clay or lateritic soils[].
Trees can start flowering in 5 - 6 years from seed[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

A natural, long-lived pioneer species[].

Other Uses

The heartwood varies from light pink to red, darkening to red brown; it is clearly demarcated from the 2 - 5cm wide band of very light-coloured sapwood. The grain is straight or interlocked; texture is coarse; a silver figure is clearly visible[]. The wood is moderately heavy, moderately hard; moderately durable with a high resistance to dry wood borers but poor resistance to fungi and termites. It has a fairly high blunting effect, so stellite-tipped sawteeth are recommended; nailing and screwing are good, though pre-boring is necessary; gluing is correct; peeling and slicing are good. A good, general purpose timber that is fairly resistant to fungi, termites and salt water, it is suitable for indoor construction, furniture, flooring and joinery, and is also used for ship building and outdoor construction purposes such as telegraph poles, sleepers and bridges[, , , ].

Propagation

Seed - at ambient temperatures, it loses viability within 6 months[]. There is no dormancy, but soaking the seed for 8 hours in water at 35°c improves the uptake of water and may enhance germination. Sow in a seed bed or individual containers, covering the seed with about 1cm soil. A germination rate in excess of 70% is usually achieved in 1 - 3 weeks[].

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