Common Name:

General Information

Shorea pachyphylla is a tree with a dense, irregularly hemispherical crown comprised of a few large, twisted branches; it can grow up to 45 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole often has a noticeable taper; it can be up to 150cm in diameter with prominent, stout buttresses up to 2.5 metres high[, ].
The tree is one of the main species that yields 'Dark Red Meranti' timber. It is commonly harvested from the wild and traded internationally.
Yielding a valuable, this species is restricted to the highly threatened mixed peat-swamp forest, usually near the coast. It is particularly threatened by logging operations because it grows too slowly to reach reproductive maturity between cutting cycles. The plant is classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southeast Asia - endemic to Borneo, in both Brunei and Malaysia.

Habitat

A canopy to emergent tree, locally gregarious in mixed peat swamp forests, especially on and beside white sand raised beaches[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Critically Endangered
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	38.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A slow-growing tree[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is a source of the timber 'Dark Red Meranti'[]. We do not have a specific description, but the general description of dark red meranti is as follows:-
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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