AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN 



OF THE 



STRAITS 



AND 



FEDERATED MALAY STATES. 



No. 2.] NOVEMBER, 1901. [Vol. I. 



THE TIMBERS OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. 



Continued, 



Guttiferse. 



This order is well represented here and contains a considerable 

 number of important timber trees. There are four genera in the 

 Peninsula, viz., Garcinia, Calophyllum, Kayea and Mesua. 



Garcinia. 



There are upwards of forty species of this genus here, trees 

 rarely of any great size, but many attain a height of from forty to 

 sixty feet. Several produce eatable fruits such as the Mangosteen. 

 (G. mangostand), Asam Gelugur (G. atroviridis) , Mundu (E. dulcis) 

 and Kandis (G. nigrolineatd). Nearly all the species produce 

 from the bark, when wounded, a quantity of the yellow gum known 

 as Gamboge, but in many cases it is scanty in quantity, or only 

 partially soluble in water, and often becomes of a dull colour after 

 drying. Commercial Gamboge is produced by the Siamese [G. 

 "morel Id). 



It is imported into Singapore and exported thence to Europe. 

 Gamboge is used as a dye, and as a purgative in medicine. 



Some of our wild Garcinias are rich in quantity of Gamboge 

 such as G. nigrolinrata and it is possible that it might be worth 

 collecting. 



G. Mangostana, Mangosteen, Manggis. 



Is usually a short stunted tree but it sometimes grows to a 

 height of forty feet. The wood is dark brown, rather hard and 

 heavy, with conspicuous rings \ inch apart, pores large in undulat- 

 ing lines, and the rays very fine and close. 



Though small this is a fairly good wood for many purposes. 

 Pierre says that the wood is much valued for cabinet work, and 

 oars. Van Eeden states it is used for building, rice pounders, spear- 

 handles, etc. 



Weight 61 \ lbs. 



G. Nigrolineata,) Planch, Kandis. 

 A tall but not very thick tree with flaky brown bark, small stiff 



