Hopea odorata Roxb.

Etymology	Genus	Afte Dr John Hope, a Scottish botanist
	Species	Fragrant; probably referring to the flower scent
Family		Dipterocarpaceae
Synonyms		-
Common Names		Cengal Pasir, Cengal Kampong
Status		Exotic: Cultivated Only
Form		Tree
Native Distribution		Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina, Peninsular Malaysia, and the Andaman Islands

Diagnostics:

This tree has a pyramidal form with a very straight trunk. It sometimes bears drooping secondary branches. The chief diagnostic are the domatia (swollen pores) located at the lower half portion of the leaf's underside; specifically at the intersection of the primary and secondary veins (Symington, 2007).

Interesting Facts:

This is appears to be the only Diperocarp species that is planted in sustantial quantity within Singapore. There are more than 7,000 Hopea odorata along roadsides as of 2009 (Tan et al., 2009). However, as this is a fairly new species introduced, all of them are still young. The best place to see it at its full majestic height and girth is in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It is planted along the streetscapes and in parks throughout the city together with another dipterocarp (Dipterocarpus alatus) .

In its natural habitat, Cengal Pasir flowers and fruits only once every 2-3 years. The fruit, like most members within the family, bears wings, allowing it to spin like a helicopter to aid in dispersal.

References

Symington CF. (2007) Foresters' Manual of Dipterocarps. Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Malaysian Nature Society, Kulau Lumpur. 519 pp.
Tan PY, B Yeo, WX Yip & HS Lua. (2009) Carbon Storage and Sequestration by Urban Trees in Singapore. Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology, National Parks Board, Singapore. 14 pp.


Author: Siyang
Posted: 2013-01-20 / Modified: 2015-01-11