Neobalanocarpus heimii (King) P.S.Ashton

Very large flaky barked buttressed tree. Twigs, midrib above, petioles and sepals outside caducous puberulent, leaf buds and panicles persistently so, parts of petals exposed in bud densely buff pubescent. Twig c. 2 mm ø apically, ribbed, becoming smooth, dotted with minute pale lenticels; stipule scars linear, horizontal. Buds small, ovoid; stipules to 12 mm long, narrowly lorate, spreading, fugaceous. Leaves 7-17 by 2.3-5 cm, lanceolate-falcate, coriaceous; base unequal, cuneate to obtuse; acumen to 1.5 cm long, tapering; nerves 9-12 pairs, ascending, arched, prominent beneath, narrowly depressed above, the basal nerve on the broader (adaxial) side frequently with prominent lateral branchlets; tertiary nerves subreticulate, slender but prominently elevated beneath, obscure above; petiole 5-10 mm long, short. Panicle to 9 cm long, terminal or axillary, singly branched; branchlets to 2.5 cm long, bearing to 7 flowers. Flower buds to 4 by 3 mm, ovoid; sepals broadly ovate, acute, subequal, corolla pale greenish yellow; stamens 15, subequal; filaments tapering, long; anthers linear-oblong, appendages rudimentary; ovary ovoid, glabrous, surmounted by a filiform style twice its length. Fruit pedicel to 2 mm long, to 3 mm ø, stout, inserted on a ± impressed receptacle base; calyx lobes to 20 by 18 mm, subequal, ovate, thickened, saccate, adpressed to the base of the nut; nut to 5.5 by 2.5 cm, oblanceolate, cylindrical, shortly apiculate, lustrous.

Widespread in mixed dipterocarp forest below 1,000 metres, especially on well-drained friable soils on undulating land.

Uses. The heavy durable timber used to be the best known in Malaya and the 'standard by which other timbers are judged' (Symington). Now largely replaced owing to the introduction of modern preservative techniques.

Can be grown by seedlings.