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Parashorea stellata Kurz
| Family Name: | Dipterocarpaceae |
| Synonyms: | Parashorea poilanei Tardieu, Shorea cinerea C.E.C.Fisch., Shorea stellata (Kurz) Dyer |
| Common Name: | Gerutu-gerutu, Lemesa, Meranti Gerutu, Thinkadu, White Seraya, Tambun Ranggas |
Parashorea stellata , also known as Gerutu Gerutu, is a tropical tree growing up to 50 m tall. It produces woody fruit which has 5 wing-like calyx lobes. Tufted soft hairs can be found on the stipule, flowering stalk and fruit. It is prized for its timber which is often used to make veneer and plywood.
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
| Maximum Height | 50 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia |
|---|---|
| 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 50 m tall and 1.45 m in diameter, with buttresses. The bark is dark grey with shallow fissures. Cut surfaces of the sapwood may exudate a clear sticky resin. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate (5 – 20 cm long and 1.5 – 7 cm wide) with a thinly leathery texture. Each leaf has 7 – 15 pairs of secondary veins. The mid rib is prominent on the underside, while being obscure on the upper surface of the leaf. The leaf tip is tapering (acuminate) while the leaf base is wedged shaped (cuneate). The leaf stalk is 1 – 2 cm long and the stipule is linear to lanceolate and covered with short fine tufted hairs. Minute pore-like domatia are present on the leaf too. In young saplings, the underside of the leaves was observed to have a silvery waxy bloom (glaucous). |
| Flowers | Flowers occur in a cluster (panicle) at the axis or terminal end of the branches. Each inflorescence is 3 – 15 cm long and comprises of 5 – 9 flowers which are white to cream coloured. The flower bud can reach up to 5 mm long and 2 - 3 mm wide. Each flower has about 15 stamens with linear to lanceolate anthers and a sub-globose ovary. |
| Fruit | The fruit is woody and winged. Each fruit has 5 wing-like calyx lobes (4 - 15 cm long and 0.5 – 2.2 cm wide). The calyx lobes become narrower towards the base and are densely to sparsely covered with soft hairs (pubescent). The calyx tube, also known as the nut, is ovoid (1 – 2 cm long and 0.7 – 1.5 cm wide). The nut is sparsely covered with soft hairs and have a style remnant (2 – 4 mm long). |
| Habitat | It is found in tropical forest and hill forest, up to 1000 m altitude. |
| Associated Fauna | Flowers are pollinated by insects. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Genus Parashorea, in Greek, means similar to Shorea, with reference to their appearance. The specific epithet stellata, in Latin, means star-like, possibly referring to the tufted hairs on the plant parts. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Timber & Products: The wood is often used to make veneer and plywood. |
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 to Slow |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
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 | Acuminate |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary, Terminal |
| Inflorescence Type | Panicle |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Samara |
| 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. Pooma, R., Poopath, M. & Newman, M.F. (2017). Dipterocarpaceae. In: Santisuk, T. & Balsev, H. (eds) Flora of Thailand, vol. 13, part 4, pp. 557–685. Bangkok: The Forest Herbarium, Royal Forest Department. Poopath, M., Sookchaloem, D. & Santisuk, T. (2012). The Dipterocarpaceae of Hala-Bala forest complex, Narathiwat and Yala provinces, peninsular Thailand. Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) 40: 57-101. 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. |
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Others
| Master ID | 34003 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8419 |
| 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. |