Common Name:

General Information

Vateria copallifera is a large, evergreen tree with spreading branches and a round canopy.
The tree yields a good quality resin and edible seeds, which are mainly used locally. A very beautiful tree, it is often planted for ornament[].
Many trees are killed by being stripped of their bark, which is much used for checking the fermentation of toddy[]. It appears to be regenerating sufficiently, but has been classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Sri Lanka.

Habitat

Lowland, wet, evergreen forests, especially near streams, at elevations up to 600 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	0.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist to wet, lowland tropics.

Edible Uses

The seeds are ground into meal and eaten[].

The bark is much used for checking the fermentation of toddy[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The stem exudes a clear yellowish resin abundantly, equal to the best dammar[]. It makes a good varnish[]. Dammar is a hard resin, obtained from various trees of Southeast Asia. Traditionally, it is used for purposes such as caulking boats and baskets, as an adhesive, a medicine, as a fuel for torches and sometimes in foods. Dammar has many commercial applications, though many of these uses are less important nowadays due to the advent of synthetic materials. Commercially, it is an ingredient of inks, lacquers, oil paints, varnishes etc, and is used as a glazing agent in foods[].
Harvesting of the resin commences when the bole is around 25cm in diameter (approx 20 years old). Triangular cuts (becoming circular with age) are arranged in vertical rows around the trunk. The cuts are several centimetres wide at first, but become enlarged at every tapping and eventually become holes of 15 - 20cm in depth and width. The average number of holes for a tree about 30 metres tall and 60 - 80cm in diameter is 9 - 11 in each of 4 - 5 vertical rows. For the higher holes, the tapper climbs the tree supported by a rattan belt and using the lower holes as footholds.
The exuded resin is allowed to dry on the tree before it is collected. The frequency with which the tree is visited to refreshen the cut varies from once a week to once a month, depending on how far the tree is from the village. Tapping can continue for 30 years[].

The yellowish-gray wood is light in weight, rather hard[]. It was at one time extensively used for making tea boxes[].

Propagation

Seed -

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