Common Name: White Dammar

General Information

Vateria indica is a large, evergreen tree generally growing up to 40 metres tall, but with some specimens reaching 60 metres.
A multipurpose tree that is much used locally in India. It yields a resin of considerable value, which is known as White Dammar or Piney, and is often exported[]. It also supplies food, medicine and a range of other commodities, the tree being harvested from the wild in large quantities and traded for medicinal use. A very handsome tree, it is often planted along avenues[, ].
A slow-growing species, with few healthy populations remaining. It has been overexploited for its timber, particularly for the plywood industry, whilst loss of habitat and other human activities have also contributed to population declines. Regeneration is said to be good where allowed. The plant is classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southwest and southern India.

Habitat

Found primarily as a canopy or emergent tree in the west coastal evergreen forests of India, it is also occasionally found in secondary evergreen dipterocarp forest in the south[]. Found at elevations up to 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Critically Endangered
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	40.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A tree of low to moderate elevations in the moist, monsoonal tropics, where it can be found at elevations up to 1,200 metres[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 24 - 33°c, but can tolerate 17 - 38°c[]. It can be killed by temperatures below 14°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall of 2,500 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 2,000 - 3,500mm[].
Succeeds in full sun and also, especially when young, in fairly dense shade[]. Prefers a light, fairly fertile, well-drained soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.5 - 6.9[].
The resin is obtained by cutting notches in the tree, from which it exudes and gradually hardens[]. Specimens differ much in colour, fragrance and density; some being of a light greenish colour, dense, homogeneous and vitreous on fracture, whilst others are amber coloured, and vesicular. These differences apparently arise from the mode of collection; and the age of the trees producing them[].

Edible Uses

The seeds can be used for making bread[].
The seeds contain up to 50% of a solid oil known as 'piney tallow'[, ]. This can be used for flavouring food and as a substitute or adulterant for ghee[].

The bark is used to control fermentation in when making alcoholic beverages such as arrack and toddy[].

Medicinal

The resin obtained from the tree is astringent, antibacterial, antidiarrhoeal, emmenagogue. It is used in the treatment of chronic bronchitis, piles, skin eruptions, ringworm, scrofula, tubercular glands, ulcers, wounds, boils; urinary discharges; amenorrhoea; gonorrhoea and syphilis[].
The resin is used as an ingredient in various antiseptic and antiinflammatory ointments[].
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the resinous exudate to be used internally in the treatment of lipid disorders, anaemia, genitourinary diseases, diarrhoea and diseases due to vitiated blood; and externally in treating gout, abscesses, skin diseases, burns, eruptions[].

An oil obtained from the seeds, sometimes combined with the resin from the tree, is valued locally as an external application to relieve rheumatism[, ].

The bark is astringent[]. It is used in the treatment of dysentery[].

The juice of the leaves is applied topically to treat burns[].

Other Uses

A resin is obtained from the tree by incising the trunk[]. It is only slightly soluble in alcohol, but dissolves at once in turpentine and drying oils[]. It burns with a clear, steady light, giving off a pleasant smell, but very little smoke[]. Like copal, it is chiefly used for making varnishes[]. The resin can be mixed with coconut oil and rolled into candles (which burn with a dark, heavy smoke), and it is also used for making imitation amber beads[, ]. The resin is also used as an incense[].

The seeds contain a large quantity of a solid oil known as 'piney tallow'[]. This can be used as a fuel for lamps and has been used to make candles[, , ]. The candles burn well, but are too soft[].

The fruit contains 25% tannins[]. The fruit shell contains 25% tannins[].
The bark contains tannins[].

The heartwood is light gray, the sapwood white with a tinge of red or grey[]. The wood is tough and hard. It is not in much request, but is sometimes utilised locally for making canoes, the masts of native vessels and coffins[].

Propagation

Seed -

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