Campnosperma Thwaites

Trees, with distinct Terminalia-branching (Fig. 61). Leaves spiral, simple, coriaceous, entire, petioled, usually with minute, peltate or lobed scales on both surfaces, glabrescent; areolae with dendroid blind vein-ends. Inflorescences axillary, paniculi-form, sometimes with rather simple, scant, short branches and seemingly racemose. Flowers unisexual and rarely bisexual (plants polygamo-dioecious). Calyx (3-or)4-(or 5-)lobed. Petals (3 or) 4 (or 5), imbricate, glabrous (except sometimes with lobed, hair-like scales on the outer surface). Stamens twice the number of petals, epipetalous ones shorter than those alternate with them; filaments subulate, glabrous; anthers dorso-basifixed, broadly ellipsoid, sterile in ♀. Disk round and flat in ♂, shortly cupular in ♀, angular or slightly crenulate. Ovary subglobose, 1-celled, scurfy; style short or obscure; stigma patent, discoid, usually irregularly lobed. Sterile pistil in ♂ very small. Drupe incompletely 2-celled by a vertical, solid or hollow septum protruding and elongating from the apical end; endocarp hard and woody. Seed 1, with testa free from the endocarp; embryo curved, cotyledons free, slightly plano-convex or rather flat.

Forming monospecific stands or (co-)dominant in (peat-, sago-)swamps (Fig. 60) to common or rare in forest on well-drained soils; also in secondary forest; apparently a strong light demander and regenerating more abundantly in more open or in disturbed habitats; mostly in the lowland, but also up to 1600 m.

Uses. The timber of all species is of the same grade; it is soft, light (specific gravity 0.3-0.5; reported as 0.7 by KRAEMER, 1951), yellowish pink to pinkish grey, easy to peel, sometimes containing some silica, planing somewhat fuzzy, easy to impregnate, not durable. Not suitable for construction work; suitable for packing cases, crates, planks, canoes, match-boxes (reports on match-sticks are disagreeing), splints, peeled veneers (not for faces?), drawing boards, and wooden shoes. Logs float.The wood produces oil in small quantities (see under the species; cf. also DING HOU Blumea 24 1978 5-6 ). Literature: DEN BERGER Med. Proefstation Boschwezen 13 1926 88 FOXWORTHY Mal. For. Rec. 3 1927 143 & 144 THOMAS Mal. For. 13 1950 88-90 KRAEMER Trees W. Pac. Reg. 1951 191 BROWNE For. Trees Sar. Brun. 1955 47 DESCH Mal. For. Rec. 15 1957 26-29 BALAN MENON Mal. For. 21 1958 40 KALKMAN Timber Species in Neth. New Guinea 1959 13 JAPING Houtsoorten N. G. 1 1961 9 VAN ROYEN Man. For. Trees Papua & N. G. 4 1964 18 HEGNAUER Chemotax. Pfl. 3 1964 96