Common Name:

General Information

Madhuca korthalsii is a tree that can grow up to 35 metres tall. The bole is around 50cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber, which is traded under the names 'Bitis' and 'Nyatoh'[].
Madhuca korthalsii has a wide range and is known to occur in protected areas. It is, however, harvested for timber and its habitat is known to be under threat, both factors leading to a decline in the population. Over 17% of the tree cover was lost within its range during the period from 2000 - 2017, and this population decline would most likely be greater if calculated over three generation lengths. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia, western Indonesia (Sumatra, Kalimantan)

Habitat

Primary mixed dipterocarp forest; at elevations up to 600 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	30.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Wood[].
We do not have any more specific information on the wood of this species, but it belongs to a group of timbers collectively called 'Bitis'. The general description of bitis wood is as follows:-
The heartwood is red-brown to purple- or chocolate-red-brown; it is sharply demarcated from the yellow-brown to purple-grey-brown sapwood. The texture is moderately fine and even, with straight or shallowly interlocked grain. The wood is strong, heavy and durable. It is very difficult to treat with preservatives.
It is slightly difficult to difficult to resaw, easy to slightly difficult to crosscut. Planing is slightly difficult but the planed surface is smooth. Nailing property is rated as poor. The timber seasons slowly with moderate end-checking, splitting and surface-checking as the major sources of defects. Shrinkage is high. The timber is likely to be fairly difficult to dry. The wood is suitable for all forms of heavy construction, bridges, wharves, piers, piling, posts, railway sleepers, parquet flooring and heavy flooring.
Bitis is essentially a Peninsular Malaysian name. In Sabah and Sarawak, the timber is not differentiated from the lighter species of Madhuca and Palaquium, and they are all sold together as nyatoh.

Propagation

Seed -

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