179 



Memecylon. 



To this genus belong the most useful woods in the order, for 

 although they are all small trees, yet the wood is hard and springy, 

 and many species are useful for house work, rafters and posts, and 

 also for shafts for carriages and work where strength and flexibili- 

 ty are required. The trees are generally known as Mangas, or 

 Bangas, by the Malays, and the large leaved species as M. hetero- 

 pleurum, as Nipis Kulit. Some as M. myrsinoides, attain a height 

 of from 30 to 40 feet, and the timber will last for five or six years 

 if exposed. 



M . acuminatum, Bl. 



Has brown wood rather pale in colour fairly heavy, the rays are 

 very fine, and the pores are small and arranged in clusters. The 

 rings in this as in most species are obscure. Weight 61 lbs. S ozs. 



M . cceruleum, J.tck. Pantat ulat. 



Has redder wood, with broad distinct rings, rather large and 

 numerous pores which are rather large. 



Other useful species, are M. heteropleurum, Bl. Nipis Kulit, 

 M. myrsinoides, Bl., M . loevigatnm, Bl. 



M. miscrostomum. 



A small tree with thin smooth bark, has dark brown wood, hard 

 and heavy all through, compact and fine grained, rings conspicuous, 

 rays very fine and obscure, pores very numerous and small. It 

 would be a first-class timber were it only big enough for beams. 



Lythrarieae. 

 Lagerstrcemia, Bongoh. 



There are three species here of this noble genus of trees well 

 enough known from their magnificent pink or mauve flowers. The 

 commonest species is 



L floribunda, Jack. 



A large tree often cultivated and wild in Pahang and elsewhere 

 chiefly along river banks. 



The wood is light fawn coloured with the rings usually very 

 distinct and large, sometimes rather close, rays fine and close 

 rather obscure, pores of medium size in lines along the rings, the 

 rings being marked out by lines of large pores. Weight 34 lbs. 

 12 ozs. to 37 lbs. 2 ozs. 



L. Flos-Reginae, Retz. 



A very similar tree with larger flowers, is often cultivated and 

 may be wild. The wood is very similar, and is used for building 

 houses, and boats and rice mortars in Sumatra (Veth). Weight 

 31 lbs. 10 ozs. 



L. hexaptera, Miq. Bungah Malukut. 



A less common species has very similar wood but it is rather 

 looser in texture. 



The Bongohs are slow growing trees, but all attain eventually 



