Eden

Penang Botanic Gardens Plant Collection

Palaquium obovatum (Griff.) Engl. (SAPOTACEAE)

Posted at — Nov 13, 2019
Nyatoh Puteh

Description

Tree to 40 m tall, cut bark produces sticky, copius latex. Leaves spirally arranged, 14-30 cm long, obovate. Flowers 1-2 cm long clustered along twigs behind leaves. Fruits round, 2.5-3 cm wide.

Ecology

Lowland rain forest to freshwater swamp forest.

Distribution

India to Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and Borneo.

Uses

Produces nyatoh timber for planks, furniture and moderately durable. The tree is a source of a good quality gutta percha.