Species Information

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Botanic Name

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Litsea glutinosa

Species identity

Ecology and distribution

Propagation and management

Species identity

Taxonomy

Current name: Litsea glutinosa

Authority: (Lour.) C.B. Robinson

Family: Lauraceae

Synonym(s)

Litsea chinensis Lamk

Litsea geminata Blume

Litsea glabraria A.L. Juss.

Litsea tetranthera (Willd.) Pers.

Common names

(Filipino) : balongai
(Indonesian) : huru tangkalak (Sundanese, Java)
(Malay) : malek (Peninsular)
(Thai) : muthaluang (Chanthaburi)

Botanic description
A small to medium-sized tree up to 20 m tall, bole straight or curved, up to 60 cm in diameter, not buttressed, bark surface greyish-brown, inner bark yellowish. Leaves arranged spirally, 10-30 cm x 3-13.5 cm, blunt or rounded, hairy on main veins above, yellowish hairy below, midrib raised or flattened above, with 6-11 pairs of secondary veins which are not sunken above, tertiary venation prominent below, petiole 1-3.5 cm long. Flowers in umbellules arranged in racemes on a 0.7-2.5 cm long peduncle, with 0-3 tepals and 9-15 stamens. Fruit depressed globose or globose, 1-2.5 cm across. Several varieties have been distinguished, but their status is uncertain.

Ecology and distribution

History of cultivation
Distribution From India through Indo-China towards the Malesian area where it occurs in all parts, and northern Australia; sometimes planted.
Natural Habitat
L. glutinosa is found in mixed primary and secondary forest and thickets.
Distribution from India through Indo-China towards the Malesian area where it occurs in all parts, and northern Australia; sometimes planted.

Biophysical limits
Altitude: Up to 1300 m.

Reproductive Biology
L. glutinosa in Peninsular Malaysia flowers annually in February and March.

Propagation and management

Propagation methods
Germination is not very rapid, approximately 85% germination is achieved in 15-45 days.

Functional uses

Products
Essential oils: The seeds contain an aromatic oil which has been used to make candles and soap. Fibre: The roots yield fibres used in Thailand for rope manufacture and for paper pulp. Food: The fruits have a sweet creamy edible pulp. Fodder: The young leaves are eaten by livestock. Medicine: The pounded seeds are also applied medicinally against boils. The leaves and the mucilage in the gum from the bark have been used for poultices. The bark also acts as a demulcent and mild astringent in diarrhoea and dysentery.

Additional Information

Development
Average annual diameter increments for L. glutinosa reported in Luzon is 0.8 cm and 1.9 cm for the 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm diameter classes.

Bibliography

Soerianegara, I., et al. 1995. Litsea Lamk. In Lemmens, R.H.M.J., Soerianegara, I. & Wong, W.C. (Eds.): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 5(2). Timber trees: Minor commercial timbers. Prosea Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia. pp 306-323.

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