Common Name:

General Information

Shorea curtisii is a tree with a huge hemispherical crown; it can grow up to 70 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be free of branches for 18 - 28 metres, 60 - 220cm in diameter, with prominent buttresses up to 2.5 metres high[, , , ].
The tree is an important and valued source of timber know as 'dark red meranti'. It is commonly harvested from the wild for commercial use[].
The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southeast Asia - Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

An emergent tree in forests[]. Deep dry soils on coastal hills; in Malaya continuing up ridges and gregarious in hill dipterocarp forests at elevations between 300 - 850 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	60.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A resin is obtained from the trunk. It is of little value[].

The heartwood is pink-brown to dark red or purplish-brown, with white resin streaks; it is clearly demarcated from the 4 - 8cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain interlocked. The wood is moderately heavy, soft, moderately durable. It seasons well and is stable in service. It has a fairly high blunting effect and so stellite-tipped and tungsten-carbide tools are recommended, there is some risk of tearing due to the interlocked grain; nailing and screwing are goo; gluing is correct. The wood has a wide range of uses including for interior and exterior panelling and joinery, light carpentry, flooring, turnery, sculpture, wood-ware and cabinetwork[].

Propagation

We have no specific information for this species - the information below is a general guide for the genus.

Seed - best sown as soon as possible. It does not require pre-treatment, but it is recommended to soak the seed for 12 hours prior to sowing[]. The seeds are sown in seedbeds, where they are covered with a mixture of sand and soil (1:1) or with a thin layer of sawdust[]. Germination of fresh seeds is usually good and rapid. About two weeks after germination, when the seedlings are 5 - 6cm tall, they are potted up into individual containers about 15 x 23cm with good drainage holes at their base[]. It is normally recommended to use a mixture of forest soil and sand (at a ratio of 3:1) as the potting medium in order to introduce the appropriate mycorrhiza to the roots. The seedlings are placed in 50 - 60% sunlight and watered twice daily[].
Seedlings can be planted out when 30 - 40cm tall - harden the seedlings off in full sunlight for one month prior to planting[].

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