Senkawang balau tree
Shorea sumatrana

Family: Dipterocarpaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows 45 m tall. The trunk can be 115 cm across. It can be 25 m to the first branch. The trunk can be 4 m around. It has buttresses. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are oblong to sword shaped and 16.5 cm long by 7.5 cm wide. They are thinly leathery with 10 pairs of secondary veins. The flowers are pink to yellow and in groups. These can be in the axils of leaves or on branches near the ends of branches. The fruit are oval nuts. They are hairy and have a scent. There are 3 longer calyx lobes that are broadly spoon shaped and 2 shorter lobes.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows along the banks of slow flowing rivers up to 1,000 m above sea level. They grow beside streams. They grow best on alluvial soils often in places which are occasionally flooded.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia, Singapore, Thailand

How it is used for food

The fat or oil is mixed with rice like butter.

Edible parts

Nuts - oil, seeds - fat

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

The fallen fruit are gathered immediately. They are then stored in heaps with water. These germinate straight away and the germinated seedlings are dried and the oil extracted. This is done by pounding in a rice skimmer. This is boiled in water and the fat skimmed off. The trees can flower after 6 years but do not always fruit that early.

Its other names

Local names

Pohon balau sengkawang, Sengkawang, Tengkawang, Tengkawang ijok

Synonyms

Isoptera sumatrana Slooten ex Thorenaar; See Hopea