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Lithocarpus ewyckii (Korth.) Rehder

Family Name:	Fagaceae
Synonyms:	Quercus ewyckii Korth., Pasania ewyckii (Korth.) Gamble, Pasania lamponga (Miq.) Gamble var. ewyckioides Gamble, Pasania ewyckii (Korth.) Gamble var. latifolia (King) Gamble
Common Name:	Mempening

Lithocarpus ewyckii or Mempening is a tree native to Singapore. Growing to 30 m tall, it has thin leathery, elliptic to oval-shaped leaves with yellowish to greyish brown velvety hairs on the underside. Flowers are monoecious held on an inflorescence covered in dense yellowish hairs. The fruit is an oval nut with dense, greyish, velvety hairs held by a velvety, cup to saucer-shaped cap (cupule) covering the basal part of the fruit.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Tree

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Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Big (>30m))
Maximum Height	50 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Sumatra, Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Borneo
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a tree that can grow between 10 - 30 m, in some regions reaching to 50 m tall. It has a greyish to reddish brown bark and buttresses are 0.6 - 1.2 m tall.
Foliage	Leaves are thin, leathery, elliptic or egg-shaped, measuring 6 - 18 cm long by 2 - 7 cm wide. The leaves are glossy above, dense yellowish to greyish brown hairs on the underside. The midrib is faintly raised on both sides with 12 - 16 pairs of lateral veins.
Flowers	Flowers are either monoecious where the male and female flowers are held on the same individuals or androgynous where flowers are bisexual. They are held on an inflorescence covered in dense yellowish hairs. The male flowers are held singly or in clusters of 3 held on a 10 -15 cm stalk while the female or bisexual flowers are held singly and rarely in clusters of 2 -3 on a 7 - 15 cm stalk. The flowers are recorded to have a musty smell.

Fruit	The fruit is an oval nut of 2 - 2.5 cm wide with a dense, greyish velvety hairs on the outside held by a cap (cupule) that covers the basal part of the fruit. The cupule is thin, cup to saucer-shaped, 0.5 to 1 cm long by 2 - 3 cm wide, with pale brown velvety hairs.
Habitat	Occurs commonly in primary, secondary and swamp forest including primary hill mixed dipterocarp, kerangas to montane forest, up to 2000m in altitude. <1 & 2>
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	The genus Lithocarpus, Greek, lithos meaning stone, karpos meaing fruit; the hard and woody cupule and acorn. The species epithet ewyckii, named after the officer of the Dutch Colonial Service, D.J. van Ewijck van Oostbroek en De Bilt (1786-1858).
Ethnobotanical Uses	Timber & Products: The wood is termed as mempening, used for medium to heavy construction for houses, bridges and also used as firewood and charcoal.

Plant Care and Propagation

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

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

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Spiral

Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Ovate)
Foliar Venation	Recticulate
Foliar Margin	Entire, Entire - Wavy / Undulate
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate
Foliar Base	Acute, Rounded / Obtuse

Floral (Angiosperm)

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

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence, Solitary
Flower Location	Terminal, Axillary
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Mature Fruit Texture(s)	Velvety / Furry / Tomentose
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit

Fruit Type

References

References	<1> Soepadmo, E., Julia, S. & Go, R. (2000). Fagaceae. Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak, vol. 3, pp. 57. Kuala Lumpur: Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). <2> Soepadmo, E. (1972). Fagaceae. In: van Steenis, C. G. G. J. van (ed.) Flora Malesiana, ser. 1, vol. 7, pt 2, pp. 351. Jakarta: Noordhoff-Kolff N.V.

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Master ID	30076
Species ID	4385
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.