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Balau Tembaga - Shorea exelliptica Meijer - Dipterocarpaceae [1]
Other names:
Dark red meranti, Light red meranti, Red lauan (English)[2]
General information:
A large tree growing up to 50 meters tall, critically endangered species, found in lowland forest; Perak and Trengganu southward.[2]
Distinguish botanical characteristics:
Leaf – simple, broad, unequal sided leaves[1]
Flowers – purple-red[3]
Heartwood – dark pink-brown to a dark-red[2]
Flowers – purple-red[3]
Heartwood – dark pink-brown to a dark-red[2]
Uses:
Medicinal uses – none known
Wood – is a source of timber know as ‘dark red meranti[2]
Major/bioactive phytochemicals:
Stem bark – resveratrol dimer aka acuminatol, antioxidant[4]
References:
[1] https://www.mybis.gov.my/sp/1336
[2] http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Shorea+acuminata
[3] http://rimbundahan.org/genus-shorea/
[4] Norhayati et al., 2012. Molecules 17(8):9043-55.
SK & QUA, 2022
