A genus in the family Dipterocarpaceae.
Shorea acuminata
meranti rambai daun
Southern half of Malay peninsula, most abundant in hilly country about 330m. Drooping branchlets, large semi-persistent stipules, unequal sided leaves and purple-red flowers. Grey to reddish bole, rough irregular fissured bark. Although greatly reduced by forest conversion, this species is not currently at risk. A specimen planted in 1997 at Rimbun Dahan fruited sparsely in Sept 2009. Location in row 3 W of entrance to main house, near Ahmad’s white sculpture.
Images from August 2022:
Shorea acuminatissima Symington
seraya kuning runcing
Latin, accuminatassimus = prominently acuminate; the leaf apex. Borneo endemic. Vulnerable. Norsham 5.13. Located with other Sabah spp front area W of stream source.
Shorea assamica Dyer
subspecies globifera (Ridl.) Sym
meranti pipit (meranti pa’ang) group
From NW India through to Malaya, Sumatra, Philippines, Borneo, Sulawesi, Maluku. Several geographical races are distinct botanical forms, that of Malaya and Sumatra is the form globifera. Common in north, not found in Selangor. Leaves oval elliptic, 7 x 3cm, 17 nerved.
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Shorea balanocarpoides Sym.
damar katup (meranti damar hitam)
N Sumatra, w Borneo, Malaya; from Kedah to Kinta; Kelantan & Terengganu. On undulating low land, endangered by logging, habitat conversion. Large oval 7 nerved leaves, heavy crowns, fruits wingless. Estimated height in 08/2022: 7 m
Shorea bentongensis
meranti mengkai (meranti pa’ang group)
Endemic sp. found in Ulu Gombak, Bentong, Rompin, NE & S Johor, on low land, deep valleys, endangered by habitat loss. Large trees with smooth bole like sepetir (Sindora spp.), leaves elliptic, c. 15 nerved, large fruit w/ short narrow wings, 3 outer 2 inner. Planted 6/07.2 new specimens June 2008, pictured below. One planted on path from Uda Manap to front, on left just beyond entrance to path, 2 more at N end of area with Ahmad’s white sculpture.
Images from August 2022:
Shorea blumutensis Foxw.
meranti kelim
Sumatra, Johor. Elliptic lanceolate, leathery leaves with revolute margins, and fulvous tomentose twigs and petioles. Up to 30m height, 2m girth. Critically endangered by logging. On right of laterite road to Uda Manap.Estimated height in 08/2022: 16 m
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Shorea curtisii
seraya
Malaya, from Pattani to Singapore. common and characteristic species of hill dipterocarp forests. Light coloured crowns, lanceolate, glaucescent leaves (pale waxy bloom on upper leaf surface, lower surface pale yellow glaucescent). Large trees to 3m girth, record 7m. Dark red meranti.
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Shorea curtisii subsp grandis
Seraya daun besar
Endemic form found only in Keledang Saiong and Bukit Kinta FRs, Perak, bw 200 and 500m. Deeply fissured bark, leaves resemble seraya, but much larger. Fr Tunas Harapan ’12.
Shorea dasyphylla
meranti batu (red meranti group)
Malaya, eastern Sumatra, Sarawak. Favours low but well drained forest, now (critically?) endangered by land conversion & logging. Leaves ovate lanceolate to elliptic oblong, 11 x 6 cm, variable, 13 nerved, softly tomentose under. Planted 6/07 to NW of Rumah Balai.
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Shorea faguetiana
damar siput(meranti damar hitam group)
Borneo, Malaya. Widely distributed, large tree. Leaves curl up on ground, ovate-lanceolate, 8 x 3 cm, 10 nerved, glabrous, petiole 12 mm, young expanding leaves dark red.
Images from September 2022:
Shorea foxworthyi
balau bukit
Endemic species, throughout the peninsula except south of Ulu Selangor on west coast, on undulating land up to 2,000 feet.
Shorea gibbosa
damar hitam gajah
Malaya, SE Sumatra, Borneo. Malaya only in central & s Johor, Singapore. Pale silvery brown striated dried twigs and larger fruits distinguish it from S. faguetiana, v similar. Larger than damar hitam (S. multiflora). 1 from TH 11/09.
Abundant in Sabah where it is known as seraya kuning gajah. Latin, gibbosus = pouched; the stamina filament. SE Sumatra, Malaya, Singapore, Borneo. Widespread in Sabah. Vast emergent to 70m, 2m diam bole. Variable sp. Norsham 5.13
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Shorea gratissima Dyer
meranti laut
Peninsula, w Sumatra, Borneo, Singapore. Bukit Jugra.
Sm ovate-lanceloate smooth leaf. Girth >3m, short buttresses. 1cm flowers, short stalked fruit, small nut ovate-oblong with short sharp point, 3 outer, 2 inner wings.
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Shorea guiso
membatu (balau group)
From China to Malaya, Sumatra, Philippines, Borneo. Endangered. Small, thin 16 nerved leaves, 9 x 4 cm. Leaves larger on saplings than on mature trees. Planted 6/07.
selangan batu merah fr Filipino name. Cochin China, Thailand, Sumatra, Malaya, Borneo, Philippines. Common in weakly seasonal tropics. Large emergent to 60m, 1.6m diam. Norsham 5.13.
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Shorea hemsleyana
chengal pasir daun besar
Malay peninsula and Sarawak, especially in swampy land on lower Perak. Common in Ijok and Parit. Timber worked in Parit sawmill, but not plentiful
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Shorea henryana
meranti jerit (scream)
From south lower Burma, S Laos and Vietnam, and SE peninsular Thailand to Perlis, north Kedah and Langkawi. Yellow crown, ovate lanceolate leaves glaucous or pink under, rusty pink twigs. Timber hardest, heaviest, most difficult to saw. 2 planted 8/08.
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Shorea hopeifolia
damar siput jantan
Borneo, Sumatra, Malay peninsula, but not Selangor; near streams. Large winged fruit, 3 outer wings (5cm x 1 cm), 2 inner wings (3cm x .5cm), all red when mature.
Shorea hypochra
meranti temak
(meranti pa’ang group)
Cambodia, S. China, Thailand, Riau, Lingga, Malaya. Usually in low swampy forest. Endangered. Large oval to elliptic-oblong leathery leaves. Planted 6/07.
Estimated height in 08/2022: 4 m
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Shorea kuantanensis ??
Images from 2022
Shorea kudatensis Wood ex Meijer
seraya kuning
Of Kudat, Sabah. Endemic in NE Sabah. Large emergent to 45m, 1.9m diam, low rounded buttresses. Endangered. Norsham 5.13.
Images from 2022
Shorea kunstleri
damar laut merah
A species of the peninsula, northern Sumatra and Borneo. Best known in the Kinta district of Perak where it is gregarious on ridges. The main diagnostic features are the closely fissured bark and frequent exudations of yellow-crusted dammar.
Shorea laevis Ridl.
kumus
Burma, Thailand, N Sumatra, Borneo, Malaya. Common on inland ridges, often with S. curtisii Probably largest trees in balau group. Fresh leaves bright yellow midrib.HSBG Tawau, Sabah, fr Tunas Harapan ’12.
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Shorea lamellata Foxw.
meranti lapis
Riau, Borneo, Malaya.
S Perak, now critically endangered. Oblong hairly leaves with c 24 prs prominent main nerves. Often >3m girth, short stout buttresses. TH 6.2012
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Shorea lepidota
meranti langgong
Sumatra and Malaya, except Perlis, Kelantan, Selangor, usually on low land. Deeply fissured bark (mature), thin oblong glabrescent leaves, & saplings with persistent falcate stipules and downy twigs.
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Shorea leprosula Miq
meranti tembaga
red meranti group of Shorea
Throughout the Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo. Used to be common on well drained lowland soils and the most abundant form of meranti; now much reduced but still common in protected areas, regenerates vigorously. 11 planted inside front fence in 1989, now (Jan 08) the largest has a CBH of 158 cm, 62″. Yellowish brown crown. Leaves elliptical, short blunt acuminate; about 15 nerved, yellow tomentose on lower surface. Twigs hairy. 1 new specimen June 2008, pictured below.
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Shorea longisperma
meranti damar hitam (meranti damar hitam group)
E. Sumatra, Borneo, Malaya (mainly S). In undulating & low forest, up to 300m. Rare scattered tree; once locally common in parts of Selangor, now critically endangered. V. large trees, fallen leaves curled up, reddish brown on upper, pale and hairy on lower. 13 nerved, petiole 12mm coarsely stellate hairy. Planted 6/07.
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Shorea lumutensis Sym.
balau putih
Endemic, only from coastal hills in Dindings, Perak. Critically endangered. fissured bark, glaucous, leathery, elliptic-oblong leaves.
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Shorea macrantha Brandis
kepong hantu, cengal/meranti pasir
Sumatra, Sarawak, Malaya (lower Sg Perak, E Pahang & Johor). Swampy areas, critically endangered by land conversion. Drooping branchlets; unequal sided leaves, tomentose; large wingless fruits. New specimen June 2008 pictured below.
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Shorea macroptera
melantai (red meranti group)
Malaya, Sumatra, west Borneo. In low lying well drained forest, to 900m. Frequently assoc with seraya (S. curtisii). Leaves obovate oblong, 13 x 5 cm, variable, frequently folded along midrib, 15 nerved, drying dull yellow brown. Planted 6/07.
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Shorea materialis
balau pasir
Endemic species limited to east coasts of Pahang, Johor and possibly Trengganu. Name refers to sandy habitat on river banks. Broad ovate, glaucous, leathery leaves, prefers low flat land, but largely logged from accessible areas.
Shorea materialis planted in a group. 
The canopy of Shorea materialis. 
S. materialis seedlings 
S. materialis growing on the ground.
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Shorea maxima
meranti sengkawang putih
(meranti damar hitam group)
Endemic Perak, S Pahang, & Kelantan. Once common in T. Malim on low hills. Endangered but conserved in parks. Dense crown w/twisted branches, large flowers, large wingless fruits. Small girth, rarely 2m. Leaves oblong lanceolate, 16 x 6cm, 9 nerved. Planted 6/07.
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Shorea maxwelliana
damar laut daun kecil
Essentially Malaya, sometimes in Borneo. Prefers well drained positions to 700m, more common on low ridges. Small elliptic/ovate-lanceolate leaves, faintly nerved and usually glaucous under.
Shorea mecistopteryx
kawang burung (Sabah), engkabang burung (Sarawak)
Borneo endemic. Large emergent tree, vulnerable due to land conversion. Leaves chartaceous, brittle when dry, blade oblong up to 30 x 12 cm.
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Shorea multiflora
damar hitam
Malaya, Sumatra, Borneo. Often on ridges in association with seraya (S. curtisii) & kumus (S. leavis). Small leaves dry light, golden brown under; small wingless fruits. Understorey tree.
Shorea ochrophloia
seraya batu (balau group)
Endemic, all states of Malaya, sporadically on low well drained land & hills up to 300m. Once common, now critically endangered. Yellow grey bole, large trees, girth up to 3m, short buttresses, crown large, heavy, dark coloured. Leaves ovate to elliptic-ovate, 7 x 5cm, 15 nerved. Planted 6/07.
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Shorea ovalis
kepong
Malaya, Sumatra, Borneo. A common meranti in lowland forest, favouring lowland and stream side. Boat shaped scabrid leaves, hairy twigs, semi-persistent triangular stipules. One of the largest and tallest trees, often >4m girth (2m in 45 yrs?), sharp buttresses. Light red meranti timber.
Shorea ovata
meranti sarang punai bukit
Malaya, w Sumatra, Borneo, Mindanao. Rarely found outside preferred habitat 600-1300m asl. Oblong hairy stipules to 13mm. Slow growth cf other dark red merantis. 1 from TH 11/09.
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Shorea parvifolia
meranti sarang punai
Widely distributed, up to 800m, but generally most at 500m. Frequently the most abundant species of Shorea present in any forest. Semi persistent triangular stipules.
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Shorea pauciflora
nemesu
Malaya, Sumatra, N. Borneo. Low but well drained habitat, up to 700m. Common in Ijok FR, Perak. Scaly bole, purplish brown dried leaves, inconspicuous tertiary nerves. [NB 2022: specimen cannot be located.]
Shorea peltata Sym.
meranti telepok
E Sumatra, W and central Borneo, NE Johor in Jemaluang FR. Low land, critically endangered in Malaya. Peltate leaves, telepok for similarity to lotus leaf. 1 fr Tunas Harapan ’12.
Shorea platycarpa
meranti paya
red meranti group
Malaya, E. Sumatra. Edges of swamp forests from coastal Perak & Trengganu to Singapore. Locally abundant in Parit. Endangered. Coarsely fissured bark, dark coloured crown, & broad scabrid or tomentose leaves. Elliptic, 17 nerved.
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Shorea platyclados
meranti bukit, karai
Mountainous areas of Malaya, Sumatra and Borneo in upper dipterocapr forest zone, higher than any other Shorea. Rich stands at the Gap, Fraser’s Hill. Flattened branchlets, smooth lanceolate leaves with sharply keeled midrib. Up to 5.5m girth, buttresses stout, bark falling in flat scales. Much logged, endangered.
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Shorea resinosa
meranti belang
(meranti pa’ang group)
Sumatra, Malaya, W Sarawak. Wide range but rare, on undulating hills blw 500m. Critically endangered by habitat loss. Elliptic lanceolate smooth leaf 10 x 4 cm with 13 nerves prominently yellow against darker under surface of dried leaf. Large trees, over 3m girth, no buttresses. Planted 6/07.
2 new specimens June 2008, pictured to the right.
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Shorea roxburghii
temak
meranti pa’ang group of Shorea
From India (deciduous) to Malaya, very adaptable, north of the Malaya-Burma floristic division. Characteristic of Schima-bamboo forest in Perlis and Kedah. Thick bark, oblong thin, long petioled leaves. Tolerates drought and fire. Likely to expand its range with increasing dryness in remaining forests. It flowers and fruits when just a few years old. Formerly S. talura.
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Shorea scrobiculata
balau sengkawang
A species of the northern peninsula and Borneo. Small leafed with open crown. Leaves similar to Shorea sumatrana, seng-kawang.
Shorea seminis (de Vriese) Slootenselangan
batu terendak
Borneo and Philippines. Locally common along rivers. Large emergent to 45m.
Images from September 2022:
Shorea singkawang
meranti sengkawang
(red meranti group)
Malaya, Lingga, E. Sumatra. In lowland forest from Kedah & Kelantan to Johor. Usually on well drained land up to 400m. Not common. Large purple brown dead leaves, elliptic 20 x 8cm, 13 nerved; large fruits almost wingless. Planted 6/07.
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Shorea singkawang var. scabrosa
meranti sengkawang (red meranti)
Malaya, Lingga, e Sumatra. This sub sp (13 nerved leaf) only in E Terengganu & Pahang, rare, critically endangered. Large purple dead leaves (elliptic oblong 20cm). [NB 2022: this specimen possibly lost.]
Shorea smithiana
meranti rembau (Sarawak), preferred name
seraya timbau (Sabah)
Borneo endemic, widespread, occurs in Lambir and Mulu National Parks, but vulnerable due to land conversion.
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Shorea sumatrana
sengkawang (balau group)
Sumatra, Malay peninsula, generally on the east coast. Frequently in lowlying swampy habitats along the banks of rivers. Critically endangered by population fragmentation and habitat destruction. Twigs glabrous, leaves elliptic-oblong with about 10 pairs of nerves sharply prominent on undersurface. Fruits have reduced wings, adapted for water dispersal. This was one of the first Dipterocarps planted at Rimbun Dahan in 1990, and the single specimen has a girth of 90 cm (2008). The revised edition of Symington notes a much slower growth rate, to 60 cm in 19 years. This specimen was felled by a freak gust of wind, 12 Nov 2009. Seedlings propagated from it will be planted at Rimbun Dahan.
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Shorea superba
selangan batu daun halus
Borneo endemic, vast emergent tree, scattered in mixed Dipterocarp forests, represented in National Parks, but endangered due to land conversions.
Shorea symingtonii Wood.C.F. Symington (1905-1943) master of the dipterocarps.
melapi kuning
Endemic to Borneo, confined to eastern Sabah, scattered in dipterocarp forest on clay rich soils.. Large emergent tree to 50m.
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Shorea sp. (balau) Seed from Johor. Undescribed species.
Shorea sp. (at old foundations)
Shorea waltonii
seraya kelabu
Borneo endemic; occurring in Sepilok Forest Reserve, but elsewhere endangered by forest clearance.
