57 
used for beams. It appears to be, however, very inferior to Sal. 
{Shorea robust a) nor can it be compared with Damar laut, or Resak, 
other species of Shorea . 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 [Ccelotermes domesticus). I have found soaking 
the wood in copper sulphate solution to make it less liable to des- 
truction in this way. 
A. 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. parvifolia, 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, an^ 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 Serayah, 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 Balu, (Maingay). 
A large tree with rather stiff ovate or ovate lanceolate leaves 
oblique at the base, acuminate, slightly hairy beneath. I he stipules 
