dipterocarpacea

 14. DIPTEROCARPACEAE

Distribution: The family consists of about18 genera and 450 species distributed majorly in tropical Asia and Indo Malaysia, with a lesser representation in tropical Africa and South America. The largest genera are Shorea (150 species) and Dipterocarpus (75 species). There are 5genera and 34 species found in India. The five generas are Dipterocarpus, Hopea, Shorea, Vateria and Vatica. Salient feature: The word Dipterocarpus derived from Greek word Di means two, Pteron means wings and karpos means fruit referring to the two winged fruit.Trees, small to large with buttressed bases and smooth unbranched trunks up to the crown, all tissues have special resin Canals. Description: Flowers are complete, fragrant; leafs are alternately arranged; calyx is wing shaped at maturity; placentation is axile. Leaves: Leaves alternate, simple, generally evergreen, entire, stipules present frequently with special depressions known as domatia, which sometimes housing small insects or mites. Inflorescence:In axillary or terminal racemes or panicles. Flowers: Flowers fragrant, regular, perfect, perigynous or epigynous. Calyx: Sepals 5, distinct or connate, sometimes enlarged and wing like at fruiting time. Corolla: Petals 5, distinct or connate at the base and spirally twisted, often leathery. Androecium: Stamens 5 - many, filaments free or connate at the base, anthers distinctive with sterile tips. Gynoecium: Pistil compound of 3 united carpels, locules 3, ovules 2 per locule, but only one ovule developes and placentation is axile. Ovary is superior or inferior. Fruit: Fruit a single seeded nut but with persistent calyx in fruit forming wing like appendages that help in wind dispersal. Seeds:Seed with endosperm lacking. Floral formula:

K5 C5 A5-∞G (3) Floral Diagram: 17Shorea robusta Economic Importance

1. This family consists of gigantic trees mostly evergreen and the world's main source of tropical hardwood Timber.

2. The species Shorea robusta and Dipterocarpus turbinatus form almost pure forest stands.

3. The S. robusta yields dammar commonly known as ral or sal dhup used in yaghya and Havana.

4. The S. stenoptera of Sunda Islands yield fat which is used in manufacturing of chocolates

5. The tree Hopea parviflora and H. odorata exudes resin that is known as rock dammar. 6. The resin, which is known as white dammar, obtained from Vateria indica, which is found in Western Ghats and Tamil Nadu.

7. The wood of Vatica lanceaefolia is good for underground uses and mostly used as fuelwood and for making charcoal. The oleoresin of this species used in flvouring tobacco for chewing and in pharmaceuticals.

8. Dipetrocarpus tuberculatus and D. turbinatus yield gurjan balsam and malapaho balsam.

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