Dryobalanops aromatica or Kapur, as it is known locally, belongs to the family Dipterocarpaceae, and is grouped under the medium-heavy hardwoods. In Latin, aromaticus means having a spice-like aroma, referring to the odour of the dammar (resin).

It is a medium-sized to very large tree, up to 65 m tall and 2 m in diameter, with buttresses at its base. The bark is smooth in young trees, but becomes shaggily scaly with age and smells of peppery camphor when the bark is cut. The leaves are simple, alternate, coriaceous and ovate, with an acuminate apex and cuneate base. They release a camphor-like odour when crushed. The lateral veins are numerous, fine and parallel, and joined into intramaginal veins at margin, while the petiole is slender and channelled. The inflorescence takes the form of a panicle while the flowers are bisexual, with glabrous, lanceolate sepals and five waxy white petals. The fruit has 5 subequal wings while the nut is glabrous.

This evergreen species occurs throughout Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, and Borneo Island. In Peninsular Malaysia, D. aromatica can be found in East Johor, East Pahang, Terengganu and Selangor.

In Peninsular Malaysia, kapur often occurs gregariously as a canopy tree and is a common and sometimes dominant species in some lowland dipterocarp forests, in particular areas with sandstone bedrock. In Borneo, however, it often does not quite dominate the mixed dipterocarp forest but is instead also found in mixed peat-swamp forest and kerangas or heath forest. The trees grow on ridges and hillsides, at altitudes between 70 and 350 m. Unlike some other dipterocarps, kapur trees flower and fruit regularly often in alternate years.

Kapur produces a valuable timber which is resistant to fungal infestation. Its economic uses include construction, interior fittings, roofing, flooring, furniture, joints and beams, mining timber, toys and coffins. Another commercially important product from this species is camphor which, in crystalline form, has medicinal value. It is used both externally and internally against asthma, coughs, headache, stomach or liver pain, ulcers and rheumatism and as incense in local ceremonies. The fruit (a nut) is reported edible.

References:

1) Ashton, P.S. 1982. Dipterocarpaceae. Flora Malesiana series I, 9(2): 237-552.

2) Ashton, P.S. 2003. Dipterocarpaceae. In: K. Kubitziki (ed.). Families and Genera of Vascular Plants 5. Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg. Pp. 182-197.

3) Lee, H.S. et al. 1994. Dryobalanops. In: Soerianegara & Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (eds.) PROSEA 5 (1): Major Commercial Timbers. PROSEA Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia. Pp186-193.

4) Symington, C.F. (revised by S. Appanah & P.S. Ashton) 2004. Malayan Forest Records No. 16: Foresters’ Manual of Dipterocarps. Forest Research Institute Malaysia. Pp 407-422.

By Tan Hui Sin
e-mail: tanhuisin@frim.gov.my

Edited by: Dr. E. Soepadmo
e-mail: soepadmo@frim.gov.my