Sindora velutina

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Sindora velutina

Description

Tree 15-37.5(-54) m high and 18-79(-95) cm in diam.; butresses very short. Leaves (3-)5- or 6- (or 7-)jugate; petiole 2-3(-5) cm and rachis 5-16(-22.5) cm long, both tawny woolly or densely tomentose when young and later thinner. Stipules lanceolate, c. 8 mm long, densely hirsute outside, glabrous inside, caducous. Inflorescences paniculate, up to 11(-20) cm long, lateral branches up to c. 3 cm long, compactly flowered, both rachis and branches densely brown hirsute; bracts lanceolate, c. 3 by 1.5 mm, densely appressed hirsute outside; bracteoles resembling bracts but about half the length; pedicels very short, densely hirsute. Petal narrowly lanceolate, 10-12 mm long, densely woolly outside, glabrous inside. Stamens: united basal parts of filaments very short; free filaments and staminodes up to c. 1.5 cm, hirsute towards the lower 1/2-1/3; perfect anthers 2 (biggest), 3.5-4 mm, the others (much) smaller. Ovary sessile, rhomboid, c. 3 by 2.5 mm, woolly; style up to c. 1.5 cm, glabrous; stigma capitate. Seeds irregularly ovoid, 1.6-2.2 cm both long and wide, flattened, smooth, purple-black, almost glossy, on top of an aril longer than wide (c. 2.6 cm wide).

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Borneo (Kalimantan present, Sabah present, Sarawak present); Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present), Palembang present, Riau present
Malesia: Sumatra (Riau, Palembang), Malay Peninsula, Borneo (Sarawak, Sabah, Kalimantan).

Morphology

Plants of Sindora velutina can be easily recognized by the densely rusty pubescent, tomentose, or woolly branchlets, axis of the inflorescences or infructescences, and undersurfaces of leaflets, as alluded by the specific epithet. Mature pods bear short spines.

Uses

The wood is said to be soft and subject to attacks by white ants and other insects. It splits when drying. It is used for beams and rafters for house-building and for household utensils and boards. See

Citation

Ridley 1922 – In: Fl. Malay Penins.: 638
Whitmore 1972 – In: Tree Fl. Malaya: 273
Cockb. 1976: p. 181. – In: Trees Sabah: f. 40, p.p.
de Wit 1949: p. 72. – In: Bull. Bot. Gard. Buitenzorg: f. 14
Meijer 1974: Field Guide Trees W Mai.: 195