Scaphium affine
(Mast.) Pierre
Malvaceae
This species has often been treated as no more than a synonym of Scaphium macropodum (Miq.) Beumée ex K.Heyne. However, we are following the treatment in 'Scaphium affine(Mast.) Pierre (Sterculiaceae) new for Thailand'[
905- Title
- Scaphium affine(Mast.) Pierre (Sterculiaceae) new for Thailand
- Publication
- Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) 36: 61 - 69
- Author
- Phonsena P. & Wilkie P.
- Publisher
- The Forest Herbarium; Bangkok.
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A short article in a botanical magazine describing Scaphium affine as a distinct species found in Thailand. It can be down loaded from the Internet
] which views them as two distinct, but closely related, species[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Clompanus affinis (Mast.) Kuntze
Firmiana affinis (Mast.) A.Terracc.
Firmiana lychnophora (Hance) K.Schum.
Scaphium beccarianum Pierre
Scaphium lychnophorum (Hance) Pierre
Sterculia affinis Mast.
Sterculia beccariana Pierre
Sterculia lychnophora Hance
Common Name:
General Information
Scaphium affine is an evergreen tree with a conical to rounded crown; it can grow from 18 - 40 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 80cm in diameter with thick buttresses up to 2 metres high[
905- Title
- Scaphium affine(Mast.) Pierre (Sterculiaceae) new for Thailand
- Publication
- Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) 36: 61 - 69
- Author
- Phonsena P. & Wilkie P.
- Publisher
- The Forest Herbarium; Bangkok.
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A short article in a botanical magazine describing Scaphium affine as a distinct species found in Thailand. It can be down loaded from the Internet
,
906- Title
- Timber Notes - Light Hardwoods VI (Dedali, Kedondong, Kelempayan, Kelumpang, Kembang Semangkok)
- Publication
- Timber Technology Bulletin No. 16
- Author
- Choo K.T.; Gan S.; Lin S.C.
- Publisher
- Forest Research Institute Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur
- Year
- 1999
- ISBN
- 139-258
- Description
- Part of an excellent series of publications, this one giving a brief guide to five lesser known groups of heavy hardwoods from southeast Asia. It is available in PDF format on the Internet.
].
The seeds are commonly harvested from the wild to make a popular drink and for medicinal purposes. The wood is a source of 'kembang semangkok' timber and is harvested from the wild for local use and for trade.
This species has been heavily exploited, and trees only flower every 1 - 3 years. Hence the number of mature trees is very low. It is often found in protected areas and conserved in some concession areas, but it is threatened by the destructive practice of chopping down the tree to collect the fruit[
614- Title
- Cambodiam Tree Species - Monographs.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.treeseedfa.org/
- Publisher
- Cambodia Tree Seed Project
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Detailed information on 21 species of Cambodian trees. It is available as a PDF file, available as a download from the Internet.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
905- Title
- Scaphium affine(Mast.) Pierre (Sterculiaceae) new for Thailand
- Publication
- Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) 36: 61 - 69
- Author
- Phonsena P. & Wilkie P.
- Publisher
- The Forest Herbarium; Bangkok.
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A short article in a botanical magazine describing Scaphium affine as a distinct species found in Thailand. It can be down loaded from the Internet
Range
Southeast Asia - Thailand, Cambodia, Laos.
Habitat
Usually found growing along rivers or in transitional areas between swampy wetlands and dry loamy areas, which are flooded for short periods, in deciduous lowland forests at elevations between 700 - 800 metres[
404- Title
- Digital Compendium of Forestry Species of Cambodia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.digitalspecies.blogspot.com
- Publisher
- www.digitalspecies.blogspot.com; Phnom Penh
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very detailed booklet, produced in PDF format on the internet, giving information on around 100 species of trees.
].
Properties
Edibility Rating |    |
Medicinal Rating |   |
Other Uses Rating |    |
Habit | Evergreen Tree |
Height | 30.00 m |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of moderate elevations in the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 800 metres[
404- Title
- Digital Compendium of Forestry Species of Cambodia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.digitalspecies.blogspot.com
- Publisher
- www.digitalspecies.blogspot.com; Phnom Penh
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very detailed booklet, produced in PDF format on the internet, giving information on around 100 species of trees.
,
905- Title
- Scaphium affine(Mast.) Pierre (Sterculiaceae) new for Thailand
- Publication
- Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) 36: 61 - 69
- Author
- Phonsena P. & Wilkie P.
- Publisher
- The Forest Herbarium; Bangkok.
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A short article in a botanical magazine describing Scaphium affine as a distinct species found in Thailand. It can be down loaded from the Internet
]. It grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 1,500 -2,500 mm[
404- Title
- Digital Compendium of Forestry Species of Cambodia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.digitalspecies.blogspot.com
- Publisher
- www.digitalspecies.blogspot.com; Phnom Penh
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very detailed booklet, produced in PDF format on the internet, giving information on around 100 species of trees.
].
Requires a shady position[
614- Title
- Cambodiam Tree Species - Monographs.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.treeseedfa.org/
- Publisher
- Cambodia Tree Seed Project
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Detailed information on 21 species of Cambodian trees. It is available as a PDF file, available as a download from the Internet.
]. Grows best in a fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered position[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
The seeds, when soaked in water, swell up to 8 times their original volume to yield a transparent, mucilaginous gel[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
,
614- Title
- Cambodiam Tree Species - Monographs.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.treeseedfa.org/
- Publisher
- Cambodia Tree Seed Project
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Detailed information on 21 species of Cambodian trees. It is available as a PDF file, available as a download from the Internet.
]. This is removed from the seeds, mixed with the soaked seeds of basil (Ocimum spp.) and made into a refreshing drink[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
614- Title
- Cambodiam Tree Species - Monographs.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.treeseedfa.org/
- Publisher
- Cambodia Tree Seed Project
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Detailed information on 21 species of Cambodian trees. It is available as a PDF file, available as a download from the Internet.
].
Medicinal
When soaked in water, the seed yields a copious mucilage. This is used as medicines to treat complaints such as diarrhoea, dysentery and asthma[
905- Title
- Scaphium affine(Mast.) Pierre (Sterculiaceae) new for Thailand
- Publication
- Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) 36: 61 - 69
- Author
- Phonsena P. & Wilkie P.
- Publisher
- The Forest Herbarium; Bangkok.
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A short article in a botanical magazine describing Scaphium affine as a distinct species found in Thailand. It can be down loaded from the Internet
]. It probably works by coating the affected area in a soothing, healing mucilage and thus giving it an opportunity to recover[
178- Title
- Chinese Materia Medica.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Stuart. Rev. G. A.
- Publisher
- Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
- Year
- 1911
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating.
].
Other Uses
The wood is a source of 'kembang semangkok' timber. We have no specific information on the wood of this species, but the following is a general description of kembang semangkok wood:-
The heartwood is light yellow to light brown, with a large silver figure; it is not demarcated from the sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight or shallowly interlocked. The wood is moderately heavy; moderately hard; somewhat resistant to fungi but susceptible to dry wood borers. It seasons fairly rapidly, with very little risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is moderately stable to stable in service. It has a high blunting effect, so stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; nailing and screwing are good; gluing is correct. The wood is used in construction, for joinery and panelling, furniture components, boxes and crates, flooring, matches, plywood, veneer etc[
614- Title
- Cambodiam Tree Species - Monographs.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.treeseedfa.org/
- Publisher
- Cambodia Tree Seed Project
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Detailed information on 21 species of Cambodian trees. It is available as a PDF file, available as a download from the Internet.
,
848- Title
- Tropix 7
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://tropix.cirad.fr/en
- Publisher
- CIRAD
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line guide to the timbers of 245 species of trees.
,
905- Title
- Scaphium affine(Mast.) Pierre (Sterculiaceae) new for Thailand
- Publication
- Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) 36: 61 - 69
- Author
- Phonsena P. & Wilkie P.
- Publisher
- The Forest Herbarium; Bangkok.
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A short article in a botanical magazine describing Scaphium affine as a distinct species found in Thailand. It can be down loaded from the Internet
,
906- Title
- Timber Notes - Light Hardwoods VI (Dedali, Kedondong, Kelempayan, Kelumpang, Kembang Semangkok)
- Publication
- Timber Technology Bulletin No. 16
- Author
- Choo K.T.; Gan S.; Lin S.C.
- Publisher
- Forest Research Institute Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur
- Year
- 1999
- ISBN
- 139-258
- Description
- Part of an excellent series of publications, this one giving a brief guide to five lesser known groups of heavy hardwoods from southeast Asia. It is available in PDF format on the Internet.
].
The wood is used for fuel[
614- Title
- Cambodiam Tree Species - Monographs.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.treeseedfa.org/
- Publisher
- Cambodia Tree Seed Project
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Detailed information on 21 species of Cambodian trees. It is available as a PDF file, available as a download from the Internet.
].
Propagation
A physical dormancy caused by the hard seed coat of the mature seeds of many species in this genus can be overcome by scarifying the seed. This is carried out by cutting away or abrading some of the seed coat to allow the ingress of water, though great care must be taken not to damage the embryo[
]. The aril surrounding the seed should also be removed - this is easiest when it has been softened through soaking in water[
]. The seeds germinate optimally at temperatures between 20 - 30°c. They can be sown in a nursery seedbed or in containers. A germination rate of about 95%, occurring within about 2 weeks can be expected if the seed has been properly treated[
].
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