Download The Trees of Santubong

The Trees of Santubong
The natural vegetation of Santubong is mixed dipterocarp rainforest, yielding to
kerangas heath forest on poorer soils and at higher elevations. It consists of many
different species of trees, shrubs, climbers and creepers (probably more than 2,000
plant species in all!). These plants are incredibly diverse and have a wide range of
uses, as can be seen from the very small selection of trees described below:
The Meranti Pitis (DIPTEROCARPACEAE: Shorea ovata) is a tall, straight tree valued
for its timber, used for house-and boat-building. Dipterocarpaceae is the large family of
large trees which dominate Sarawak’s rainforests, and give them the name “mixed
dipterocarp rainforest”. The name “Dipterocarpaceae” refers to the seeds, which have
two or more “wings”, enabling them to be dispersed by wind and gravity, like little
spinning helicopters. (The seeds of this species are eaten by various jungle animals.)
Shorea is a large genus of hardwood and semi-hardwood trees within the dipterocarp
family, many of which are of significant commercial value.
The Nyatoh (SAPOTACEAE: Palaquium microphyllum) is a tree used for building
timber. The latex extracted from related species, called ‘gutta percha’, is a kind of rubber.
This used to be commercially very important, and had such diverse uses as the covering
for transatlantic telegraph cables, golf balls, dental fillings, and surgical equipment! This
particular species has very little latex, and so was not commercially developed.
Petroleum-based products (plastics) have now largely replaced gutta percha in industry,
but animals still appreciate this tree – its edible oil-rich nut is relished by squirrels; wild
boar pick up what the squirrels drop.
The Kapur Keladan (DIPTEROCARPACEAE: Dryobalanops beccarii) is one of the
camphor trees, having a sweet-smelling resin. Like all Dipterocarps, this is a timber tree.
It yields a good building material and is much sought-after as a firewood. Its fruit is
eaten by wild animals. Kapur keladan is also known as kapur bukit, because it grows on
hills and slopes (bukit means “hill” in Malay). The scientific name of this species, D.
beccarii refers to Odoardo Beccari, the great Italian tropical botanist who spent time in
Sarawak in the late 1800s, and who in fact climbed to the summit of Gunung Santubong
in his search for new and interesting plants!
The Benuah (EUPHORBIACEAE: Macaranga hypoleuca) is a fast-growing softwood
(The local name Benuah is used for several related Macaranga species). Benuah are
“pioneer” species, and are common in disturbed areas - for example areas which have
been logged or cleared, gaps where large trees have fallen in primary rainforest, and
along some trekking trails (like this one!). Once established, these pioneer plants provide
sufficient shade for primary rainforest tree seedlings to grow, allowing regeneration of
the rainforest. Benuah are also important as a food source for forest browsers such as deer
and rhinoceros. This is partly because the leaves of these (generally) small trees are
easier to reach than the tops of the towering dipterocarps, but also because the leaves of
Benuah are not loaded with nasty tasting chemicals, like many dipterocarps. Many
Benuah species harbour ants in their hollow stems, which in return protect the tree.
Hornbills and other birds feast on the fruit of this particular species. People also make use
of Benuah: the soft wood is used for carving and for making matches, and the leaves of
some species are used by Iban for wrapping rice. Some traditional medicines are also
made from Benuah.
The Pala Munsoh (MORACEAE: Artocarpus rigidus) yields a good building timber,
also used for making furniture. Birds feed upon its fruit; its bark bast can be beaten into a
rough kind of cloth. The name Artocarpus is derived from the Greek for “breadfruit”.
The genus includes breadfruit, jackfruit and terap species – all of which have large,
bristly fruit with richly flavoured flesh, popular across Southeast Asia, and common in
Kuching markets during season. Artocarpus fruit can be considered as giant, inside-out
figs. Figs and Artocarpus fruit both have compound fruit of many fused fruitlets – in figs
they point inwards and in Artocarpus, outwards.
The Rengas Sudu (ANACARDIACEAE: Gluta aptera) is used for making houses and
furniture. The wood has to be well seasoned, however, as it exudes a very irritating sap
which can provoke nasty rashes and blistering in some people - even after the wood has
been dry for years! (Even rain dripping down through the leaves of some related trees
can produce rashes!) Anacardiaceae is a big family of trees which includes mangoes and
cashew-nuts – as well as the North American poison oaks and ivies. The genus name
Gluta comes from the Latin gluten, meaning “glue”, in reference to the sticky poisonous
sap, which forms black lacquer-like stains on the bark. In recognition of the nastiness of
some rengas trees, the Malays also call some species kerbau jalung – “the untamed
buffalo”. However, this particular tree is called rengas sudu. Sudu in Malay means
“spoon”; but in Iban, sudu’ can also mean “king cobra” – so you probably don’t want to
mess with this tree. There are some traditional home-antidotes for rengas exposure,
including citronella oil and the juice of the roots of certain other trees.
The Bintangor (GUTTIFERAE: Calophyllum biflorium) is a building timber, also used
for constructing furniture; its fruit is relished by wild boar. The family name “Guttiferae”
means “latex bearing”; and the latex of a number of species from this family has
medicinal uses. (For example, the species Garcinia hanburyi produces “gamboge”, a
yellow pigment which was also used as a strong purgative, and after which the country
Cambodia was named) A related Bintangor variety yields a substance that is being
evaluated for the treatment of HIV.
The Tampoi (EUPHORBIACEAE: Baccaurea) is best known for its juicy, slightly acid
fruit; it may be eaten fresh, or processed into a mildly inebriating liquor. In fact, the
genus name Baccaurea comes from Latin meaning “golden fruit”. The bark, fruit and
fruit shells are used in traditional medicines to cure ailments such as diarrhoea and
headaches. Baccaurea trees are also important for fruit-eating animals, including
primates such as macaques and gibbons, and various birds.
The Selangan Batu (DIPTEROCARPACEAE: Shorea foxworthyi) is another dipterocarp
and timber tree. It yields a fine building and boat-making timber, second only to the
belian ironwood in hardness. Its fruit are eaten by wild animals. It prefers low-lying,
undulating land or hills up to 500 m.
The Kayu Malam (EBENACEAE: Diospyros graciflora) is generally found in the poorer
kerangas forests; its timber is used for house and furniture construction. It is closely
related to true ebony trees - the local name kayu malam means “night wood”, a reference
to the dark colour of the wood, which makes it valuable for furniture. The fruit of this
tree are eaten by wild animals (it is also distantly related to the persimmon).
The Durain Burong (BOMBACEAE: Durio acutifolius) has spiky soccer-ball sized fruit
which are similar in appearance to the related and famously smelly durian fruit. However,
the fruit of the durian burong are not edible for people, hence the name, which means
“bird durian”. As the name implies, this tree (like all members of the Durio genus) are
important as a food source for hornbills - as well as for orang-utan. Although there aren’t
any orang-utan on Santubong, you might see some hornbills if you’re very lucky.
The short, squat pitcher plants which can be seen at the end of the waterfall trail are
Nepenthes ampullaria. The “pitchers” are in fact specially adapted leaves, which fill
with water and special chemicals designed to attract, drown and digest small insects.
This is an adaptation which allows these plants to survive on very poor soils. Locally,
Nepenthes ampullaria are also called “monkey baskets”, and the Iban sometimes used to
cook rice in them– ready-made little takeaway bags!
Text © SEDC, Tig Pocock & Minda Lowry