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Diospyros maingayi (Hiern) Bakh.

Family Name:	Ebenaceae
Synonyms:	Diospyros bilocularis Oliv., Maba maingayi Hiern
Common Name:	Nyatoh Itam, Kayu Balum, Kayu Arang, Kayu Malan, Siangus

Diospyros maingayi or Nyatoh Itam is a large-sized tree, native to Singapore that can grow to 40 m tall. The leaves are leathery, elliptic to spoon-shaped. Flowers are dioecious, bell-shaped, 4-5 lobed, cream-white coloured. Both the female and male inflorescences are similar in appearance but the female tend to be bulgy at the base. The fruit is a single-seeded, oblong berry that ripens to orange.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
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Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Big (>30m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Maximum Height

40 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and Singapore..
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a large-sized tree that can grow to 40 m tall. Buttresses may be present of up to 2 - 4m tall.
Foliage	Leaves are elliptic, sometimes spoon-shaped, leathery, measuring 5 - 21 cm long by 3 - 11 cm wide. The midrib is sunken above with 5-9 pairs of veinlets and tertiary veinlets almost invisible.
Flowers	Flowers are dioecious, the male and female inflorescence are produced on different individuals. Both female and male are similar in appearance however the former tend to be bulgy at the base. Flowers are cream-white, bell-shaped, 4- 5 lobed, numerous stamens fused together into the hollow tube.

Fruit	Fruit is a single-seeded, oblong, orange coloured drupe measuring to 6 cm long by 3.5 cm wide.
Habitat	Occurs in peat swamps, lowland hills and montane forests up to 600 m in altitude. <1,2>
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Timber & Products: The wood is used as ebony.

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Slow

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate

Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Oblong, Obovate)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate, Caudate, Emarginate
Foliar Base	Auriculate, Cuneate, Rounded / Obtuse

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Woody
Root Type	Underground

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious
Flower Colour(s)	Cream / Off-White

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Axillary, Cauliflorous
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Individual Flower Shape	Campaulate / Bell-shaped
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Orange
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Berry

Seed Quantity Per Fruit

Few (1-5)

References

References	<1> Lemmens, R.H.M.J, Soerianegara, I. & Wong, W.C. (1995). Plant Resources of South-East Asia, Timber trees: Minor commercial timber, pp. 194-195. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers. <2> Ng. F.S.P. (1978). In: Ng. F.S.P. & D.Phil., F.L.S. (eds). Tree Flora of Malaya: A manual for foresters, vol. 3, pp. 77. Kepong: Forest Research Institute.

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Master ID	29378
Species ID	3687
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.