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Anisoptera costata Korth.
| Family Name: | Dipterocarpaceae |
| Common Name: | Mersawa Kesat, Pengiran Kesat |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 65 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, the Philippines, Borneo, Java, and the Moluccas |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree up to 65 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its alternate, stalked leaves have leathery leaf blades that are oblong to drop-shaped, 625 by 3.511 cm, greyish-brown below, and dry to grey-brown above. Its midrib is covered with fine, yellow-brown hair below. |
| Flowers | Its white-yellow flowers are 6 mm long. |
| Fruit | Its fruits (nuts) have broadly conical tips. Each fruit has a longer wing that is 9 - 12 by 1.4 - 1.8 cm, and 3 shorter wings that are 1.2 - 1.5 by 0.2 - 0.35 cm. |
| Habitat | It grows in lowland forests on clayey soils, up to 700 m altitude. |
| Associated Fauna | It has insect-pollinated flowers. It is the preferred local food plant for caterpillars of the moth, the red coffee borer (Zeuzera coffeae). |
| Cultivation | It is propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Greek anisos, unequal; Greek pteron, wing, referring to the unequal wings on its fruits; Latin costatus, ribbed, referring to the prominent veins of the leaf blades |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate to Slow |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31051 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5438 |
| 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. |
