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Shorea multiflora (Burck) Symington

Family Name:	Dipterocarpaceae
Synonyms:	Balanocarpus multiflorus (Burck) Symington, Doona multiflora Burck, Richetia latifolia (Brandis) F.Heim, Balanocarpus penangianus (F.Heim) King, Balanocarpus acuminatus F.Heim, Balanocarpus sibogae Boerl., Hopea multiflora Brandis, Richetia acuminata Baill., Richetia penangiana F.Heim
Common Name:	Damar Hitam, Darmar Hitam Pipit, Damar Tanduk

Shorea multiflora, also known as Damar Hitam, is a tropical tree growing up to 40 m tall. It has wingless fruit and produces black resin. It produces yellow meranti timber that is prized regionally for light construction.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Synonyms
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
Plant Shape	Broad / Mushroom / Hemispherical
Maximum Height	40 m

Biogeography

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

Local Conservation Status

Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only)

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a tree, up to 40 m tall and 1 m diameter, with buttresses. Cut surfaces of the sapwood may exudate a sticky dark brown or black resin.
Foliage	Leaves are ovate-lanceolate (4.5 – 7.5 cm long and 2 – 3.5 cm wide) and have thin leathery texture. Each leaf has 8 – 10 pairs of lateral veins. They are barely elevated on the underside of the leaf. The midrib is slightly sunken on the upper surface while being slightly raised on the underside of the leaf. The leaf tip is narrow and tapering (caudate), up to 1.5 cm long, while the leaf base is wedged shaped (cuneate) or equal. A pair of domatia may sometimes be present at the base of the leaf. The leaf stalk (petiole) is 0.7 – 1 cm long and may be covered with short grey hairs.
Flowers	Flowers occur in a cluster (panicle) at the axis or terminal end of the branches. Each inflorescence is up to 16 cm long and bearing up to 9 flowers. The flower buds are small (up to 0.25 cm long). Flowers are small (about 1 cm wide), pale yellow to cream with twisted petals. Each flower has 10 - 15 stamens with subglobose anthers. The connectival appendage is 1.5 - 2 times as long as the anther. The ovary is ovoid and densely covered with soft hairs (pubescent).

Fruit	The fruit is woody and wingless. The nut is oblong to obovate (about 2 cm long and 1.2 cm wide). The calyx lobes are small (0.5 cm long and 0.4 cm wide) and form a toothed cup around the nut.
Habitat	It is found in tropical forests, coastal hill forests and limestone forests, up to 900 m altitude.
Associated Fauna	Flowers are pollinated by insects.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	Latin Shorea, commemorating Sir John Shore (1793-1798), the Governor-General for the British East India Company; The specific epithet multiflora, in Latin, means many flowers.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Timber & Products: It produces yellow meranti timber that is prized regionally for light construction, such as light-duty flooring, door and window frames, interior furniture, joinery, plywood and veneer. The logs usually float in water and can be transported by river. Others: The tree produces black resin which is sometimes used by local people for torches.

Landscaping Features

Landscape Uses	Parks & Gardens

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

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

Rootzone Tolerance

Well-Drained Soils, Acidic (low pH) Soils

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Leathery

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Caudate
Foliar Base	Cuneate

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Root Type	Underground

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Cream / Off-White, Yellow / Golden
Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence

Flower Location	Axillary, Terminal
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Individual Flower Shape	Saucer-shaped
Inflorescence Type	Panicle
Flowering Period	Every Few Years
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Nut / Nutlet

Seed Quantity Per Fruit

Few (1-5)

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. Soerianegara, I., & Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (Editors). 1993. Plant Resources of South-East Asia Volume 5 (1). Timber Trees: Major Commercial Timbers. Netherlands: Pudoc Scientific Publishers. 610 pages. Symington, C.F., Ashton, P.S. & Appanah, S. (2004). In: Barlow, H.S. (ed.) Foresters’ Manual of Dipterocarps. Malayan Forest Records, no. 16, 2nd ed. Kuala Lumpur: Forest Research Institute Malaysia/Malaysian Nature Society.

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.

Soerianegara, I., & Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (Editors). 1993. Plant Resources of South-East Asia Volume 5 (1). Timber Trees: Major Commercial Timbers. Netherlands: Pudoc Scientific Publishers. 610 pages.

Symington, C.F., Ashton, P.S. & Appanah, S. (2004). In: Barlow, H.S. (ed.) Foresters’ Manual of Dipterocarps. Malayan Forest Records, no. 16, 2nd ed. Kuala Lumpur: Forest Research Institute Malaysia/Malaysian Nature Society.

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Master ID	30409
Species ID	4718
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.