Lithocarpus rufovillosus
(Markgr.) Rehder
Fagaceae
Pasania rufovillosa Markgr.
Common Name:
General Information
Lithocarpus rufovillosus is an evergreen tree that can grow from 15 - 40 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 20 - 60cm in diameter, it can be free of branches for up to 20 metres[
388- Title
- Guide to the Trees of Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
- Conn. B.J. & Damas. K.Q.
- Website
- http://www.pngplants.org/PNGtrees/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An Internet site giving good descriptions of the trees of Papua New Guinea.
,
451- Title
- Flora Malesiana Series 1
- Publication
-
- Author
- Various
- Website
- http://www.archive.org
- Publisher
- Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
].
The tree is a major exportable timber in New Guinea, where it is harvested from the wild on a commercial basis.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
388- Title
- Guide to the Trees of Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
- Conn. B.J. & Damas. K.Q.
- Website
- http://www.pngplants.org/PNGtrees/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An Internet site giving good descriptions of the trees of Papua New Guinea.
,
451- Title
- Flora Malesiana Series 1
- Publication
-
- Author
- Various
- Website
- http://www.archive.org
- Publisher
- Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
Range
Australasia - New Guinea
Habitat
A canopy tree, growing on sandy soils in forests; at elevations up to 2,300 metres, mainly above 700 metres[
388- Title
- Guide to the Trees of Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
- Conn. B.J. & Damas. K.Q.
- Website
- http://www.pngplants.org/PNGtrees/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An Internet site giving good descriptions of the trees of Papua New Guinea.
,
451- Title
- Flora Malesiana Series 1
- Publication
-
- Author
- Various
- Website
- http://www.archive.org
- Publisher
- Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
]
Properties
Edibility Rating | |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Evergreen Tree |
Height | 28.00 m |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
In the tropics, the genus Lithocarpus is generally found in lowland to montane forests, usually below elevations of 2,000 metres occasionally to 3,000 metres. The genus usually grows in areas with year-round rainfall, disliking dry seasons.
Young plants usually grow sucessfully in the shade of woodland, but older trees like a more sunny position. Lithocarpus species are mainly found in well-drained soils, often growing on slopes; they tend to be tolerant of a range of soil textures and to prefer an acid to neutral pH.
Edible Uses
The ovoid-conical seed is 20 - 30mm long and 20 - 25mm wide[
451- Title
- Flora Malesiana Series 1
- Publication
-
- Author
- Various
- Website
- http://www.archive.org
- Publisher
- Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
].
Although we have no specific information for this species, the seeds of all the species of Lithocarpus are more or less edible and most if not all of them will have been used for food in times of shortage, when better foods were not available.
The seed is usually cooked before eating, though it can also be eaten raw. It can be eaten whole, though it is more commonly dried, then ground into a powder and used as a thickening in stews etc or mixed with cereals for making bread.
The main disadvantage of the seed is that it is often rich in tannins, making it bitter and astringent. These tannins can be largely removed by soaking the seeds in water then throwing the water away. The process should be repeated until the seed no longer tastes bitter.
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The tree is a major exportable timber[
388- Title
- Guide to the Trees of Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
- Conn. B.J. & Damas. K.Q.
- Website
- http://www.pngplants.org/PNGtrees/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An Internet site giving good descriptions of the trees of Papua New Guinea.
].
No further information is given, but the following is a general description of Lithocarpus timber from trees growing in southeast Asia:-
The heartwood is yellow-brown, red-brown or dark red-brown; it is not always clearly demarcated from the lighter-coloured sapwood. The texture is rather coarse and uneven; the grain fairly straight but sometimes interlocked; there is a true oak-line silver figure prominent on the radial surface. The wood is strong to very strong; hard to very hard; moderately heavy to heavy; moderately durable and very difficult to treat. It seasons fairly slowly, without any defects except for some staining, slight bowing and end-checking; shrinkage is high. It is easy to saw when green, but slightly difficult to work when dried; planing is easy and the planed surface is smooth; turned wood has a rough surface when finished. Nailing properties are poor.
A medium hardwood, it is suitable for medium to heavy construction under cover, furniture making, interior finishing, panelling, parquet flooring etc[
996- Title
- A Dictionary of Malaysian Timbers
- Publication
- Malayan Forest Records No. 30
- Author
- Wong T.M.
- Website
- http://Elaeocarpaceae
- Publisher
- Forest Research Institute Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 983-2181-29-1
- Description
- A fairly comprehensive guide to Malaysian timbers, giving their properties and the main tree species from which they are obtained.
]. It is used locally for purposes such as fence post, mining props, shingles, boat building, and for making tool handles, rice pounder, poles for carts etc[
899- Title
- Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak Vols 1 - 6
- Publication
-
- Author
- Soepadmo E.; Saw L.G.; Chung R.C.K. (Editors)
- Publisher
- Forest Research Institute Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 983-2181-27-5
- Description
- A flora of the woody plants of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, often giving details of plant uses.
].
The wood makes a good fuel and can be used to make charcoal[
899- Title
- Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak Vols 1 - 6
- Publication
-
- Author
- Soepadmo E.; Saw L.G.; Chung R.C.K. (Editors)
- Publisher
- Forest Research Institute Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 983-2181-27-5
- Description
- A flora of the woody plants of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, often giving details of plant uses.
].
Propagation
Seed - it quickly loses viability if it is allowed to dry out. It can be stored moist and cool, but is best sown as soon as it is ripe in an outdoor seed bed, though it must be protected from mice, squirrels etc. Small quantities of seed can be sown in deep pots in a cold frame. Plants produce a deep taproot and need to be planted out into their permanent positions as soon as possible, in fact seed sown in situ will produce the best trees[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
]. Trees should not be left in a nursery bed for more than 2 growing seasons without being moved or they will transplant very badly.
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