Neobalanocarpus
{{short description|Genus of plants}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Biggest Chengal tree.jpg
|status = EN
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|display_parents = 2
|genus = Neobalanocarpus
|parent_authority = P.S.Ashton
|species = heimii
|authority = (King) P.S.Ashton
|synonyms = {{species list |Balanocarpus heimii|King
|Balanocarpus wrayi|King
|Pierrea penangiana|F.Heim ex Brandis}}
}}
Neobalanocarpus is a monotypic genus of plants in the family Dipterocarpaceae. The single species, Neobalanocarpus heimii, is a tropical hardwood tree. Common names for the tree and its wood products include chengal, chan ta khien, chi-ngamat, takian chan, and takian chantamaeo. The tree grows over {{convert|60|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} tall. Chengal is considered the number one wood (classified as heavy hardwood) of Malaysia and export of logs is prohibited due to its scarcity. The species is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red list.
Distribution
File:1500 year old Chengal tree.jpg
Neobalanocarpus heimii is endemic to the Malay Peninsula and grows under quite a range of conditions of soils and topography in Peninsular Malaysia (and southern Thailand) from low flat semi-swamp to hills, but appears to thrive best on undulating land with light sandy soils. See Wildlife of Malaysia.100 Malaysian Timbers, published by Malaysian Timber Industry Board, 1986, p16/17 It is now extinct in Singapore,{{cite web |last1=Marzalina |first1=M. |last2=Nashatul |first2=Z.N.A. |last3=Jayanthi |first3=N. |title=EX SITU CONSERVATION EFFORTS FOR Neobalanocarpus heimii IN MALAYSIA |url=http://www.fao.org/3/ac648e0c.htm |website=www.fao.org |publisher=Forest Research Institute Malaysia |accessdate=3 May 2020}} and possibly extinct in Thailand.{{cite web |title=Neobalanocarpus (PROSEA) - PlantUse English |url=https://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Neobalanocarpus_(PROSEA) |website=uses.plantnet-project.org |accessdate=2 May 2020}}
Description
Neobalanocarpus heimii can grow to be a large tree over 60 metres tall, with a straight, unbranched trunk, averaging 90 cm in diameter, and with obvious supporting buttresses. Its simple, leathery leaves are arranged alternately, and are elliptical to lanceolate, between 7 and 17 cm in length, and 2.5 and 5 cm in width. The largest tree in peninsular Malaysia is an N. heimii at the Pasir Raja Forest Reserve in Dungan, Malaysia which is sixty-five meters (214 feet) in height and 17ft 6in thick (16.75 meter girth) with buttresses up to 34ft 9in (10.6 meters) long and 24ft 11in (7.6 meters) in height.{{cite web | url= https://www.1rom.com.my/content/article-show.asp?id=410 |last= Tai | first= Alyna | title= Land Rover Owners Club of Malaysia - Wonders of Mother Nature - by Luis J. A. Wee | date= n.d. | access-date=January 14, 2005}}
It is widespread in mixed dipterocarp forests, growing to altitudes up to {{convert|1000|m|ft}}, preferring soils that are friable and well-drained land.
Uses
File:Chengal House.jpg, 2005]]
File:Traditional Malay boat building.jpg, 2004]]
Chengal has been used for furniture making, house and boat-building.{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObhAAQAAIAAJ&q=chengal+house+boat |title = The Crafts of Malaysia|year = 1994|isbn = 9789813018075|last1 = Othman |first1 = Sulaiman (Dato' Haji| publisher=Editions Didier Millet }}{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b44c1SXmJhYC&q=flexible+chengal | title=Materials Handbook| isbn=9780071501842| last1=Vaccari| first1=John A.| date=9 July 2002| publisher=McGraw Hill Professional}} Despite its extreme strength and hardness, chengal is highly flexible before it is fully cured, making it suitable for plank bending (boat building). It is also highly resistant to rot, fungi and mildew. In addition, chengal has a relatively low shrinkage ratio{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GdoOAQAAMAAJ&q=chengal+similar+to+teajk+color |title = Manual of Malayan Timbers|last1 = Desch|first1 = Harold Ernest|year = 1941}} (only inferior to teak), which makes it excellent for applications where it undergoes periodic changes in moisture. Chengal, like teak, has the unusual properties of being both an excellent structural timber for framing, planking, etc., while at the same time being easily worked and finished to a high degree.
Chengal may be varnished but does not necessarily need a "finish". The wood naturally weathers to a silver-grey colour similar to teak. It can be easily planed, drilled or turned. Nailing is very difficult and the wood often has to be pre-drilled.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}
= Durability =
File:Chengal in the sawmill - 2003.jpg, 2003]]
The timber is classified as naturally durable and is normally very resistant to termite attack{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hds8AAAAYAAJ&dq=chengal+termite&pg=PA27 |title = Insecticides from Plants, a Review of the Literature, 1954-1971|last1 = Jacobson|first1 = Martin|year = 1975}} and fungal infestation. Under graveyard test conditions, untreated specimens of size 50 mm × 50 mm × 600 mm lasted 9 years. Treated specimen of the same size and test conditions lasted about 19 years. Untreated railway sleepers of size 238 mm × 125 mm × 1,950 mm laid under severe environmental conditions gave an average service life of 19 years. Termites do not attack the sound timber.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://archive.today/20130615212700/http://woodwizard.my/report.asp?ItemID=22 Woodwizard Information site]
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q787773|from2=Q661108}}
Category:Dipterocarpaceae genera
Category:Monotypic Malvales genera
Category:Flora of Peninsular Malaysia
Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot