Common Name:

General Information

Homalium foetidum is a mid-canopy to emergent tree; it usually grows 20 - 30 metres tall, but is sometimes no more than 6 metres and there are also occasional specimens in excess of 40 metres. The straight, cylindrical bole, which can be buttressed for up to 2 metres, is up to 1 metre in diameter and can be unbranched for up to 30 metres in the largest specimens[, ].
The tree is a fairly important source of malas timber[], it is often harvested from the wild and is sometimes exported.
The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea.

Habitat

Lowland forest, often near rivers[]. In undisturbed to disturbed mixed dipterocarp forests at elevations up to 400 metres[]. Often along rivers, but also common on hillsides[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	20.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Usually found on sandy to clay, often stony soils in the wild, but also found on limestone[, ]. Tolerant of periodic inundation of the soil[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is very variable and can be of two kinds - towards the centre is a generally large region of yellowish, pinkish, or pale red, then there is a generally small area of reddish or pale chocolate brown - though sometimes there is no distinction. The heartwood is very irregularly streaked and mottled; it is sometimes rather sharply demarcated, though at others it merges gradually into the 3 - 5cm wide band of yellowish or pinkish sapwood. The wood turns black after exposure to sea water. The grain is straight or slightly crossed; the texture very fine, dense and smooth The wood is hard, heavy and durable, being rarely attacked by termites and but slowly by teredo. It seasons fairly well, checking and warping very little. It is hard to saw, but not difficult to shape and surface. It is used for pilings, ship building, wharf and bridge building; posts, sills, poles, ties, paving blocks; floors; interior finish; sash; furniture and cabinetwork[, , ].
This species is considered by many to be the best wood for pilings in the Philippines[].

Propagation

Seed -

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