Seraya majau, Meranti majau
Shorea johorensis

Family: Dipterocarpaceae

What it is like

Shorea johorensis is a large tree about 65m tall with a hemispherical crown and straight, cylindrical, buttressed bole that can be up to 160 cm in diameter. It can be found in Southeast Asia particularly in Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. There are no known edible and medicinal uses of this plant but it is a source of dammar resin, a hard resin, which can be used for caulking boats and baskets, as an adhesive, fuel for torches, etc. Shorea johorensis is more valued as timber. Its wood is light, soft, moderately durable, resistant to dry wood borers and fungi but susceptible to termites. It works well with tools and fairly finishes well. It is used for panelling, joinery, light carpentry, boxes and crates, veneer, and many other purposes.

Shorea johorensis is an evergreen Tree growing to 50 m (164ft) by 30 m (98ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 50

Where it is found

An emergent tree in undisturbed mixed dipterocarp forests at elevations up to 300 metres. Usually found on riversides with clayey to sandy soils.

Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia.

Conservation Status: Status: Critically Endangered A1cd

Countries/locations it is found in

Indonesia; Malaysia

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 4

Other Uses: The trunk contains a dammar resin. 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 wood is used. The wood is a source of a high-grade light red meranti timber We do not have a specific description, but the general description of light red meranti is as follows: The heartwood is light red to pink or pink-brown, with white resin streaks; it is clearly demarcated from the 5 - 8cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain interlocked with a ribbon-like aspect; the surface is lustrous. The wood is light in weight, soft, moderately durable, being resistant to dry wood borers, somewhat resistant to fungi and susceptible to termites. The wood seasons well with a slight risk of checking or distortion; once dry it is stable to moderately stable in service. The wood works well with normal tools, though the tools need to be kept sharp because it has a tendency towards woolliness; it generally finishes fairly well, though filling is recommended; screwing and nailing are good; gluing is correct. The wood is used for several purposes including interior and exterior panelling and joinery, light carpentry, boxes and crates, veneer etc.

Adhesive: Glues.

Ink: Plants that can be used as an ink.

Lighting: Plants that can be used as torches etc. See also Oil and Wax.

Paint: Plants used directly as a paint. Does not include oil plants and dyes that can be used as ingredients in paints.

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,

Soap making: Plants used as an ingredient in making soaps. Does not include the essential oils, dyes and oils that are also used in making soap.

Varnish: Plants that can be used as a varnish without any special treatment. Does not include varnishes made from oils etc.

Waterproofing: Does what it says. See also Pitch and Oil.

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

How it is grown

Usually found in the wild on riversides with clayey to sandy soils. Prefers a well-drained soil.

Propagating it: 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.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

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

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Shorea leptoclados Symington