57 



used for beams. It appears to be, however, very inferior to Sal. 

 {S/iorea robust d) nor can it be compared with Damar laut, or Resak, 

 other species of Shotea. As, however, it is much in demand and is 

 easy of cultivation, it might well be planted where possible. 



All the Serayahs are liable to destruction by Termites, especially 

 the house Termite {C02loterm.es domesticus), I have found soaking 

 the wood in copper sulphate solution to make it less liable to des- 

 truction in this way. 



S. macroptera Dyer. Kepong, Kepong Hantu. 



A tall tree 60 to 80 feet tall, about 2 feet through without but- 

 tresses. Bark grey nearly smooth. The leaves stiff oblong rather 

 narrow. Flowers small pink. 



Fruit nut oval acute an inch long, wings four inches long and 

 one across with 8 longitudinal veins, and much reticulated yellow, 

 base enlarged round the nut, then slightly narrowed broadening to- 

 wards the rounded apex, the small wings not half as long very 

 narrow linear. 



Flowers every sixth year. Common in Singapore, Malacca, 

 Penang and Perak. 



The wood is dark red with close rings, the pores are fairly large, 

 medullary rays conspicious with silvery transverse connecting bars. 

 Weight 22 lbs. 15 ozs. 



Not considered a very good wood, but used for building. The 

 bark is used for houses and rice-bins. It is thick and firm, dark 

 red brown in color, and was formerly much used for walls of 

 houses especially in Malacca, but its use is dying out as it becomes 

 more difficult to procure, and planks are more easily obtainable 

 owing to the opening up of the districts where it was used. It is 

 stated to be strong enough to resist a rifle bullet, but it was open 

 to the objection that it was very dusty. 



The Kepong produces also a Damar. 



Sh. parvi folia, Dyer. Serayah Samak, Meranti daun kechil, 

 Meranti kerap. 



A big tree about 100 feet tall, and three or four feet through. 

 Buttresses usually strong and thick. Bark red and rough with 

 broad vertical flakes, but often covered with lichens so as to con- 

 ceal the red color. Inner bark white. Leaves small ovate or ovate 

 lanceolate, dark green and rough in texture. 



Flowers small, and rather scattered on the panicles, white. 



Timber reddish but rather light in colour, pores very numerous 

 of medium size, a rather soft and not very heavy wood, containing 

 a good deal of damar deposited in cracks. It is apt to split. A 

 good ordinary Sera) ah, suitable for common furniture, etc., occurs 

 in Singapore, Malacca, Penang and Perak. Weight 36 lbs. 13 ozs. 

 (Maingay) S. 39 lbs. 



Sh. acuminata , Dyer. Rambeh Daun, Meranti Payah, 

 Serayah Batu, (Maingay). 

 A large tree with rather stiff ovate or ovate lanceolate leaves 

 oblique at the base, acuminate, slightly hairv beneath. J he stipules 



