Litsea leytensis
Merr.
Lauraceae
Common Name:
General Information
Litsea leytensis is an evergreen tree that can grow around 18 - 25 metres tall[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
,
952- Title
- The Philippine Journal of Science. Section C. Botany.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Merrill. E.D. (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Manila Bureau of Printing; Philippines
- Year
- 1915
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal, it contains lots of new descriptions of plants and various other article on the botany of the Philippines. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is an important source of the timber marketed as 'medang'[
884- Title
- The World List of Threatened Trees
- Publication
-
- Author
- Oldfield S.; Lusty C.; and MacKinven A.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- World Conservation Press; Cambridge UK
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 1-899628-10 X
- Description
- A list of the trees on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Plant Species in 1998, often giving some information on habitat and the reasons for being on the list. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Although Litsea leytensis has a relatively large distribution, it is only found in a limited number of locations. It is an important timber tree and this, coupled with exposure to other threats, is causing a continuing decline in its habitat and population. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
952- Title
- The Philippine Journal of Science. Section C. Botany.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Merrill. E.D. (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Manila Bureau of Printing; Philippines
- Year
- 1915
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal, it contains lots of new descriptions of plants and various other article on the botany of the Philippines. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
Southeast Asia - Philippines.
Habitat
Found in both primary and secondary forests, at elevations around 150 - 500 metres[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
,
952- Title
- The Philippine Journal of Science. Section C. Botany.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Merrill. E.D. (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Manila Bureau of Printing; Philippines
- Year
- 1915
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal, it contains lots of new descriptions of plants and various other article on the botany of the Philippines. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 18.00 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[
2011- Title
- A revision of Litsea (Lauraceae) in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore
- Publication
- Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 73(1): 81-178. 2021
- Author
- Kok R.P.J. de
- Website
- http://10.26492/gbs73(1).2021-07
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2021
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very detailed treatment of the species
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The wood is useful for creating agricultural tool handles and laundry paddles[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
There are a number of tree species (including this one) from Peninsular Malaysia that are in the family Lauraceae and produce a useful timber that is either not distinct enough in itself, or is in insufficient supply, to warrant being traded individually. These various species have been lumped together under the trade name ‘medang’[
895- Title
- Timber Notes - Light Hardwoods II
- Publication
- Timber Technology Bulletin No. 10
- Author
- Gan K.S.; Lim S.C.; Choo K.T.
- Publisher
- Forest Research Institute; Malaysia
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 139-258
- Description
- Part of an excellent series of publications, this one giving a brief guide to five lesser known groups of light hardwoods from southeast Asia. It is available in PDF format on the Internet.
].
We do not have a specific description of the wood from this species, but a general description of medang timber is as follows:-
The heartwood is very variable, from light-straw to red-brown and olive brown; the sapwood is ill-defined. The texture is moderately fine but even; the grain interlocked or wavy; the surface dull. The wood is not durable. It is easy to slightly difficult to resaw, and easy to moderately easy to cross-cut; easy to plane and the surface produced is smooth to moderately smooth. It is suitable for decorative work such as interior finishing, panelling, furniture and cabinet making. It is also suitable for plywood manufacture, whilst the heavier species are suitable for medium construction under cover[
895- Title
- Timber Notes - Light Hardwoods II
- Publication
- Timber Technology Bulletin No. 10
- Author
- Gan K.S.; Lim S.C.; Choo K.T.
- Publisher
- Forest Research Institute; Malaysia
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 139-258
- Description
- Part of an excellent series of publications, this one giving a brief guide to five lesser known groups of light hardwoods from southeast Asia. It is available in PDF format on the Internet.
]
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
