Botanical Name: Nageia wallichiana
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Podocarpaceae
Genus: Nageia
Species: N. wallichiana
Synonyms:
*Dammara pinnata
*Nageia latifolia
Common Names: Nageia In China, it is called rou tuo zhu bai and in Vietnam, it is known as Kim giao núi ??t. In Tamil, it is called as Narambali or Nirambali.
Habitat: Nageia wallichiana is native to E. Asia – southwest China, India, Myanmar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines. It grows in primary rainforest with canopy heights to 50 metres or more, occurring from lowlands to montane forested ridges at elevations to 2,100 metres
Description:
Nageia wallichiana is an erect evergreen and glabrous tree tall up to 50 m with a cylindrical stem and thin colourless juice. The bark is smooth with a brown and white mottled appearance and 0.5-inch thickness. The bark is hard and scaly with a dark or reddish-brown colour and peeling into thin flakes. The inner bark is pinkish or reddish in colour with 5–6 mm thickness and slightly fibrous. The wood as aromatic, grey coloured, and moderately hard. The anatomy of the wood is described as extremely fine, with numerous rays and faint annual rings. The weight of the wood is recorded as 32 lbs per m3.
The crown is described as conical or irregularly rounded. Leaves are opposite decussate, subopposite, or rarely alternate towards the end of branchlets. The length of the leaf is recorded as 3-7 inches and width 0.75- 2 inch. The petiole is 5– 10 mm long and twisted 900 at the base. Leaf shape is narrowly elliptic to ovate-lanceolate with acute or obtuse apex. Leaves are coriaceous, tapering at both ends, and have numerous longitudinal nerves. Leaf colour is dark shining green. Stomata seen on both surfaces and is more conspicuous in the underside.
Pollen cones are arranged axillary, on a 4–10 mm long peduncle in clusters of up to 7–10. The pollen cones become cylindrical at its full length and consist of two pollen sacs. Seed cones are axillary, solitary, and arranged in long peduncles, with a few deciduous bracts near the base of the peduncle. The cone bracts fuse to a green swelling and later red or purplish receptacle. The ovoid seeds with 1-inch length are formed at the end of receptacle and enclosed in a green epimatium which later turns into a purple coloured fleshy structure. The fruiting season is January to February.
Cultivation:
Nageia wallichiana is the most widespread species in the genus Nageia and perhaps also one of the most truly tropical of all conifers, as it occurs near sea level in Dipterocarp forest on the equator as well as being found in subtropical forests. Based on data from 64 collection localities, its climate preferences include a mean annual temperature of 24.7°c, with an average minimum in the coldest month of 19°c, and a mean annual precipitation of 2711mm. It is hardy to Zone 9 (cold hardiness limit between -6.6°c and -1.1°c. Plants can succeed in soils with low levels of nutrients. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.
Propagation: Through seeds.
Edible Uses: Not known to us.
Medicinal Uses:
The leaves are used for cough as a conventional remedy in Vietnam, The decoction of leaves is taken orally for curing joint pains by Nicobarese.
Other Uses:
Nageia wallichiana is considered as a timber tree with highly valuable wood, particularly where it grows into straight, tall trees with a clear long bole. It is traded as Podocarp wood. Long timber is sawn into planks primarily for house construction. Other wood uses include veneer, plywood, furniture making, interior finishing, and often the construction of small canoes in areas like Fly River, Wagu, and Papua New Guinea. Short stems are utilized for making household utensils
A reddish-orange, scented resin exudes from the bole. A highly valued wood, it is used for musical instruments, chop sticks, fine crafts, furniture, construction and household tools. Long timber is sawn into planks for construction (mainly house building); other uses of the wood are plywood, veneer, interior finishing, and sometimes the construction of small canoes. The wood is used for fuel.The tree is considered as highly ornamental tree.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nageia_wallichiana
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Nageia+wallichiana
