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Hopea latifolia Symington

Family Name:	Dipterocarpaceae
Common Name:	Merawan Daun Bulat, Merawan Jangkang

Hopea latifolia , also known as Merawan Daun Bulat, is a tree which can grow to 40 m tall. It has cream flowers and winged fruits. Aside from its valuable timber, it also produces a clear resin which can be used for varnish, caulking boats and illumination purposes.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants)
Plant Growth Form	Tree
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	40 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Non-native

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a tree, up to 40 m tall, with mall thin buttresses and stilt roots. The trunk can reach up to 0.7 m in girth. The bark is smooth and can become scaly.
Foliage	Leaves are ovate, measuring 5 – 8 cm long and 2.2 – 4.5 cm wide, and have a thinly leathery texture. The leaves are green when fresh, and turning brown before falling off. Each leaf has 8 – 11 (– 13) pairs of lateral veins. The leaf tip is long (caudate), up to 1.5 cm long, while the leaf base is wedged shaped (cuneate). Domatia are absent. The leaf stalk (petiole) is 1.2 – 1.7 cm long. Stipule is linear-laneolate, measuring 1 – 1.5 mm long and 0.25 – 0.8 mm wide.
Flowers	Flowers occur in a cluster (panicle) at the axis or terminal end (rarely) of the branches. Each inflorescence is up to 4 cm long and bearing up to 5 flowers. Flowers are small and cream coloured. Each flower has 15 stamens in whorls and round anthers. The connectival appendage about the same length as the anther. The ovary is ovoid and glabrous.

Fruit	The fruit is winged and dry. They are borne on stalks which are 2 mm long. Each fruit comprises of two wing-like calyx lobes, measuring up to 6 cm long and 1.4 cm wide, three shorter lobes (up to 0.9 cm long and 0.7 cm wide) and one oval-shaped nut (up to 0.8 cm long and 0.7 cm wide) with a short style remnant at the tip (about 0.2 mm long).
Habitat	It is found in rainforest, up to 400 m.
Associated Fauna	Flowers are pollinated by insects.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	The genus Hopea commemorates John Hope (1725-1768), the first Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. The specific epithet latifolia, in Latin, means broad leaves.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Timber & Products: It produces merawan timber that is prized regionally for construction, such as joists, beams, house construction, door and window frames, ship building, plywood and veneer. The tree produces clear resin (dammar) which is sometimes traditionally used by local people for torches, varnish, caulking boats and applied externally to heal sores and wounds.

Landscaping Features

Landscape Uses	Parks & Gardens

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic

Plant Care and Propagation

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

Foliar

Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Leathery
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate

Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Apex - Tip	Caudate
Foliar Base	Cuneate

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Nut / Nutlet

References

References	Ashton, P.S. (1982). Dipterocarpaceae. In: van Steenis, C.G.G.J. (ed.) Flora Malesiana, ser.1, vol. 9, part 2, pp. 237–552, 575–600. The Hague/Boston/London: Martinus Nijhoff/Dr. W. Junk Publishers. Ashton, P.S. (2004). Dipterocarpaceae. In: Soepadmo, E., Saw L.G. & Chung, R.C.K. (eds) Tree Flora of Sabah Sarawak, vol. 5, pp. 63–388. Malaysia: Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)/Sabah Forestry Department/Sarawak Forestry Department. Lemmens, R.H.M.J. and Soerianegara, I. (eds). (1993). Plant Resources of South-East Asia Volume 5 (1). Timber trees: Major commercial timbers. Indonesia: Prosea Foundation. 610 pages.

References

Ashton, P.S. (1982). Dipterocarpaceae. In: van Steenis, C.G.G.J. (ed.) Flora Malesiana, ser.1, vol. 9, part 2, pp. 237–552, 575–600. The Hague/Boston/London: Martinus Nijhoff/Dr. W. Junk Publishers.

Ashton, P.S. (2004). Dipterocarpaceae. In: Soepadmo, E., Saw L.G. & Chung, R.C.K. (eds) Tree Flora of Sabah Sarawak, vol. 5, pp. 63–388. Malaysia: Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)/Sabah Forestry Department/Sarawak Forestry Department.

Lemmens, R.H.M.J. and Soerianegara, I. (eds). (1993). Plant Resources of South-East Asia Volume 5 (1). Timber trees: Major commercial timbers. Indonesia: Prosea Foundation. 610 pages.

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Master ID	30000
Species ID	4309
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.