Common Name:

General Information

Lagerstroemia tomentosa is a deciduous tree growing 20 - 35 metres tall[, , ]. The straight bole can be free of branches for most of its height and up to 80cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber, which is used locally and also traded.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam.

Habitat

Evergreen, semi-evergreen and mixed deciduous forests, usually occupying the lower slopes of hills and well-drained valleys on deep rich soils; at elevations from 600 - 1,200 metres[, ].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 26 - 36°c, but can tolerate 10 - 43°c[]. The plant cannot tolerate frosts. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,000 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 4,500mm[].
Prefers a sunny position, tolerating light shade[]. Grows well in moist, fertile, well-drained soils of medium texture, tolerating light soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5, tolerating 4 - 7.5[].
Seedlings often have thin stems and are more like climbing plants for their first two or three years, but the stem then thickens and they develop the erect habit of a tree[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is a light grey to greyish brown. The wood is close-grained, moderately hard, fairly durable. It is used for construction, planking, canoes, carts, shafts, wheels, furniture etc[]. It is also suitable for making boxes, crates and matches[]. The wood is capable of a very smooth surface from the tool, and is an admirable decorative wood for high-class work[].

We have no more specific information on the wood of this species, but the following is a general description of wood from this genus:-
The heartwood is light red to reddish brown, darkening on exposure; the sapwood is light yellow brown to greyish white, rather wide[]. The grain is usually straight; texture moderately fine to rather coarse; rather lustrous; without distinctive odour or taste. It is generally classified as moderately durable and somewhat resistant to termites, although the sapwood is liable to powder-post beetle attack. It saws and works well; finishes to a smooth surface; and takes a good polish. It is used for making furniture, interior joinery, boatbuilding, general construction, parquet flooring and panelling[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a nursery seedbed with some shade. Seedlings are somewhat slow growing in their first year, but then speed up and can be ready to plant out when about 18 months old and 45 - 90cm tall[].

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