Palaquium gutta
Species of tree
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Palaquium gutta is a tree in the family Sapotaceae. It is native to Southeast Asia.
| Palaquium gutta | |
|---|---|
| |
| Botanical drawing, 1897 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Sapotaceae |
| Genus: | Palaquium |
| Species: | P. gutta |
| Binomial name | |
| Palaquium gutta | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
List
| |
Description
Palaquium gutta grows up to 40 m (130 ft) tall. The bark is reddish brown. Inflorescences bear up to 12 flowers. The fruits are round or ellipsoid, sometimes brownish tomentose, up to 2.5 cm (1 in) long.[3]
Taxonomy
Palaquium gutta was first described as Isonandra gutta by English botanist William Jackson Hooker in his London Journal of Botany in 1847.[4] In 1884, the French botanist Henri Ernest Baillon transferred the species to the genus Palaquium.[2] The lectotype was collected in Singapore. The specific epithet gutta is from the Malay word getah meaning 'sap or latex'.[3]
Distribution and habitat
Palaquium gutta is native to Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and Singapore.[1] Its habitat is lowland mixed dipterocarp, kerangas and limestone forests.[3]
Uses
The seeds of Palaquium gutta are used to make soap and candles, occasionally in cooking. The latex is used to make gutta-percha.[5] The timber is logged and traded as nyatoh.[1]
Conservation
Palaquium gutta has been assessed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List. The significant threat to the species is deforestation: in Borneo for conversion of land to palm oil cultivation.[1]