Nageia
Nageia wallichiana

Family: Podocarpaceae

What it is like

Nageia wallichiana or commonly known as Nageia is a conifer tree that can be about 10 - 50 m tall. It has a straight and cylindrical trunk that can be up to 60 cm in diameter and branchless for up to 30 m. It is grown throughout Vietnam, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, and Malaysia where it is highly valued for its timber. It is also used for local medicine and as an ornamental tree. Leaves are used against coughs and painful joints. Trunk exudes scented resin. The wood is used for musical instruments, crafts, construction, furniture, and tools. It is also used for fuel.

Nageia wallichiana is an evergreen Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Wind. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 20

Where it is found

A sub-canopy to canopy tree, scattered but often common in primary rainforest with canopy heights to 50 metres or more, occurring from lowlands to montane forested ridges at elevations to 2,100 metres.

E. Asia - southwest China, India, Myanmar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.

Conservation Status: Status: Least Concern

Countries/locations it is found in

Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; China; India; Indonesia; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Thailand; Viet Nam

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 2

Leaves are used as a cure for coughs. A decoction of the leaves is taken orally as treatment for painful joints

Antitussive: Prevents or relieves coughing.

Other

Rating: 4

Other Uses A reddish-orange, scented resin exudes from the bole. A highly valued wood, it is used for musical instruments, chop sticks, fine crafts, furniture, construction and household tools. Long timber is sawn into planks for construction (mainly house building); other uses of the wood are plywood, veneer, interior finishing, and sometimes the construction of small canoes. The wood is used for fuel.

Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.

Resin: Used in perfumery, medicines, paints, soap making etc. This also includes turpentine, which is extracted from many resins and used as a preservative, water proofer etc,

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

How it is grown

This is the most widespread species in the genus Nageia and perhaps also one of the most truly tropical of all conifers, as it occurs near sea level in Dipterocarp forest on the equator as well as being found in subtropical forests. Based on data from 64 collection localities, its climate preferences include a mean annual temperature of 24.7°c, with an average minimum in the coldest month of 19°c, and a mean annual precipitation of 2711mm. It is hardy to Zone 9 (cold hardiness limit between -6.6°c and -1.1°c. Plants can succeed in soils with low levels of nutrients. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Propagating it: Seed -

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 9-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Nageia

Synonyms

Decussocarpus wallichianus (C.Presl) de Laub. Nageia blumei (Endl.) Gordon Nageia latifolia Gordon P