Intsia bijuga
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ipil, merbau, kwila | |
|---|---|
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Genus: | Intsia |
| Species: | I. bijuga |
| Binomial name | |
| Intsia bijuga |
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- This is about ipil (Intsia bijuga), for the ipil-ipil tree, see Leucaena leucocephala.
Intsia bijuga (aka ipil, merbau, kwila) is a tree that grows in mangroves in Southeast Asia and islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is a member of the tropical Caesalpiniaceae family. It grows to around 50 meters (160 feet) tall with a highly buttressed trunk. It is the official tree of the United States territory of Guam.
The tree has a variety of common names including ipil, merbau and kwila.[1] In the Philippines, it also known in some areas as taal.[2]
Due to extensive logging of the tree, it is endangered in many places in Southeast Asia, and almost extinct in some.[3]Extensive amounts were purchased for the venue of the 2008 Summer Olympics in China, which is the largest importer of the wood.[4] The wood is used for flooring in U.S. and European markets where it is commonly sold under different names. Both licensed and unlicensed mills harvest the wood.
[edit] Uses
The tree's timber, called merbau or kwila, is a very durable and termite-resistant wood, making it a highly valued material for flooring and other uses. The wood can also be used to extract a dye. The bark and leaves of the ipil are used in traditional medicines. Merbau can contain a "gold" fleck that runs through the grain, considered to be attractive by some.
[edit] References
- ^ "Tree Conservation Information Service". UNEP-WCMC. 2007-09-05. http://www.unep-wcmc.org/trees/trade/int_bij.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
- ^ "Ipil, taal". English, Leo James. Tagalog-English Dictionary. 1990.
- ^ Wild Singapore
- ^ Bristow, Michael (2007-07-06). "China trade threatens tropical trees". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6277518.stm.
[edit] External links
- CIRAD Forestry Department
- On illegal importation into China
- Physical Properties of Merbau Wood
- Tropical Building Systems Ltd.
- BINTUNI BAY NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN - IRIAN JAYA BARAT PROVINCE 2006-2030, Part 2, page 8.
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