Common Name:

General Information

Quercus merrillii is an evergreen tree growing around 10 metres tall with a bole around 20cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is jointly marketed with the wood of various other Quercus and Lithocarpus species under the trade name ‘mempening'[].
Quercus merrillii has a restricted range, being known only from a few widely separated populations in Borneo and parts of the Philippines. It has a projected habitat decline because the region in which it occurs is threatened by land conversion and urbanization. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak), Philippines (Palawan))

Habitat

Hill mixed dipterocarp forest; at elevations up to 500 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

We have no specific information for this species, but the seed (or acorn) is a rich source of carbohydrates and would almost certainly have been eaten by traditional peoples, especially in times of shortage. The main disadvantage is that the seed is also likely to contain bitter-tasting, astringent tannins. Traditionally, these tannins would have been largely removed either by leaching the seeds in water or by baking them. The seeds can be cooked whole or be dried and ground into a powder that can be used to make a gruel or can be added to flour for making bread, cakes etc[].
The ovoid to conical or cylindrical acorn is 20 - 30mm long and 10 - 15mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The tree is a source of 'mempening' wood[].
We have no further specific information, but the general description of mempening wood is as follows:-
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 under exposed conditions 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 and with protection from termite attacks; when well seasoned it can be used for furniture making, interior finishing, panelling, parquet flooring, decorative veneers etc[].

Propagation

Seed -

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