Common Name:

General Information

Shorea seminis is a medium to large sized tree with a dense, oblong to hemispherical crown; it can grow up to 52 metres tall[, ]. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 126cm in diameter with thin buttresses up to 2 metres high[, ].
The seed of this species is a minor source of a vegetable fat called 'tangkawang' or 'Borneo tallow'; or sometimes 'Illipe', though this latter name is more properly applied to the fat obtained from the plant Madhuca longifolia[, ]. The wood is a high class construction timber that is used locally and also traded.
The tree has been classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2010)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southeast Asia - Indonesia, Philippines.

Habitat

Alluvium banks of sluggish rivers, often gregarious[]. An emergent tree in undisturbed mixed dipterocarp forests at elevations up to 300 metres[, ]. When found in secondary forests, it is usually present as a pre-disturbance remnant tree[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Critically Endangered
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	45.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of lowland areas in the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations of up to 300 metres[, ].

Yields of 1,138 kg/ha of dried kernels have been reported[].
The tree does not start to bear fruit until it is 18 - 25 years old[].

Edible Uses

An edible fat obtained from the seeds has similar uses to Cacao butter[, ].

Medicinal

An edible fat obtained from the seed is easily absorbed by the skin. It can be used to treat skin problems and is often used as a carrier to apply other substances to the skin[].

Other Uses

The seeds of many species in this genus, including this species, yield an oil that has an unusually high melting point and is solid at room temperature[, , , ]. Average yields range from 45 - 70% according to species[]. The fat is somewhat similar to Cacao butter (obtained from Theobroma spp.) and can be used in a variety of ways, often combined with cacao butter. In addition to it being edible, it has medicinal uses and can be used in making soap, candles, polishes and cosmetics[, ]. The seed is rather small, around 1cm long and wide[].

A resin is present in the trunk[].

The heartwood is pale grayish to yellowish gray; the moderately thick band of sapwood is light gray. The texture is fine to medium thick; the grain interlocked. The wood is hard to very hard; heavy to very heavy; very strong; durable even in the ground. It is largely used in permanent construction where strength and durability are essential[, ].

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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