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:

General Information

Heritiera simplicifolia is an evergreen tree growing up to 50 metres tall, occasionally to 64 metres. The bole can be 40cm or more in diameter, with large, thin buttresses up to 3 metres high and 4 metres out from the tree[, , ].
The tree is a source of 'mengkulang' timber and is commonly harvested from the wild for both local use and export.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

A canopy to emergent tree, scattered in primary lowland forest on well-drained soils; at elevations up to 300 metres[, ]. Often found on hillsides and ridges with sandy soils[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	40.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A report that the fruits can be used as a treatment against fever is erroneous. It refers to Scaphium macropodum and not to this species[].

Other Uses

The heartwood varies from light pink to red, darkening to red brown upon exposure; it is clearly demarcated from the 3 - 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, high class furniture, flooring and joinery, and is also used for ship building and outdoor construction purposes such as telegraph poles, sleepers and bridges[, , ]. It is largely used in making cart wheels[].

The timber is of the same quality as that of H. javanica. It is much exported from the Riouw Archipelago to Singapore; the grain is medium, fairly hard, but splitting slightly in drying. It is not very durable (samples buried in the soil were destroyed in two and a half years)[].

Propagation

Seed -

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