''Shorea astylosa'' is a species of
plant in the family
Dipterocarpaceae
Dipterocarpaceae is a family of 16 genera and about 695 known species of mainly tropical lowland rainforest trees. The family name, from the type genus ''Dipterocarpus'', is derived from Greek (''di'' = two, ''pteron'' = wing and ''karpos'' = fru ...
. It is
endemic to the
Philippines, where it is known as ''yakal'' in the
Filipino language.
Yakal is a medium to large tree about 25 to 30 meters tall. Its wood is hard and dark brownish-yellow, its branchlets slender, blackish, and slightly hairy.
Its leaves are coriaceous, ovate to lanceolate, or oblong-lanceolate or apex acuminate. The base are rounded to cuneate, glabrous above and slightly hairy underneath. Its blade is 6.5-nine centimeters long and two-4.5 centimeters wide, with its petiole slender, 10-23 millimeters long, and dark.
Its inflorescence are axillary, paniculate, and up to about six centimeters long, with its flowers yellow, very short-stalked, and about 12 millimeters long. The flowers' petals are narrowly oblong or oblong-lanceolate, more or less twisted in bud, rounded at apex, 18 millimeters long, and reticulate.
Habitat
Yakal is commonly found in
Luzon island, particularly in the
Quezon and
Camarines areas, as well as in the islands of
Samar,
Negros, and
Mindanao (particularly in the island's
Zamboanga,
Agusan, and
Davao regions). It can also be found in
primary forests at low altitudes.
Uses
Traditional use
Traditional wood extractions of yakal are due to the wood's being tumor-inhibiting.
Contemporary use
Contemporary harvests of yakal are for high-grade construction, bridges and wharves, mine timber, and other installations requiring high strength and durability.
Yakal
rafi.org.ph
References
External links
*
*
astylosa
Endemic flora of the Philippines
Trees of the Philippines
Endangered flora of Asia
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{Dipterocarpaceae-stub