Philippine mahogany (Shorea almon)
Facts – Philippine mahogany
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Theales |
| Family | Dipterocarpaceae |
| Genus | Shorea (1) |
| Size | Height: 70 m (2) Trunk diameter: 1.6 m (2) |
Status – Philippine mahogany
Classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1).
Description – Philippine mahogany
This large, highly threatened tree has elliptical, papery, wavy leaves that measure up to 16 centimetres long and 7 centimetres wide. The bark can be almost smooth on young trees, but as the tree ages, furrows develop, which deepen as time passes. The inner bark is light brown to yellowish and has a slightly stringy texture. The fruit of the Philippine mahogany is almost spherical, about one centimetre across, and densely covered with short, soft hairs (2).
Range – Philippine mahogany
Occurs in the Philippines and in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia (3).
Habitat – Philippine mahogany
The Philippine mahogany grows on hills at low altitudes, in primary, mixed dipterocarp forest (2) (3).
Biology – Philippine mahogany
Very little information is available about the biology of the Philippine mahogany. Flowering occurs between March and April and the tree bears fruits between June and July (2).
Threats – Philippine mahogany
The Philippine mahogany has become depleted due to logging and slash-and-burn farming (2). The moderately hard and comparatively light timber is in great demand for plywood (2) (3), and is also used for furniture, boat decking and for many other purposes (2).
Conservation – Philippine mahogany
Despite being Critically Endangered, it is not clear whether any conservation measures exist for this species.
Authentication
Glossary
- Dipterocarp: trees of the family Dipterocarpaceae: resinous trees that are found in the old world tropics.
- Primary: relating to forest, forest that has remained undisturbed for a long time and has reached a mature condition.
- Slash-and-burn: the cutting and burning of forests or woodlands to create space for agriculture or livestock.
References
-
IUCN Red List (June, 2007)
http://www.iucnredlist.org - De Guzman, E.D., Umali, R.M. and Sotalbo, E.D. (1986) Guide to Philippine Flora and Fauna. Volume 3: Dipterocarps and Non-Dipterocarps. Natural Resources Management Center, Ministry of Natural Resources and University of the Philippines, Philippines.
- Oldfield, S., Lusty, C. and MacKinven, A. (1998) The World List of Threatened Trees. World Conservation Press, Cambridge, UK.
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