Indonesian kapur

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Borneo Camphorwood
• Camphor Tree
• Indonesian Kapur
• Malay Camphor
• Sarawak Kapur
• Sumatran Camphor
• Borneo camphor
• Sumatra camphor
• Bornean Camphorwood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Dipterocarpus camphorus
• Dipterocarpus dryobalanops
• Shorea costata
• Shorea camphorifera
• Dryobalanops camphora
• Dryobalanops vriesii
• Laurus sumatrensis
• Vatica camphorifera
• Dryobalanops junghuhnii
• Dryobalanops sumatrensis
• Pterigium teres

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Dryobalanops aromatica, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Malvales. Furthermore, it is a member of the family Dipterocarpaceae and is situated within the genus Dryobalanops.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to the diverse tropical landscapes within the Malesia botanical region. Its specific geographical distribution spans several key islands and peninsulas across Southeast Asia. Most notably, it can be found growing in the lush rainforests of Borneo. It is also widely distributed throughout the Malay Peninsula, known as Malaya. Additionally, the species is prevalent across the island of Sumatera, contributing to the region's rich biodiversity.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Drybalanops aromatica is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to maintain a stable presence within its ecological niche over many years. As a long-lived woody plant, it exhibits an evergreen growth habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and provides photosynthetic capacity throughout the various seasons rather than shedding its leaves annually. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and evergreen status enables the plant to sustain continuous vegetative growth and contribute consistently to the forest canopy structure.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dryobalanops aromatica is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree. This species exhibits a robust growth form, typically reaching a mean height of 45 m, with the potential to attain a maximum height of up to 50 m. As a strictly terrestrial plant, it does not exhibit epiphytic tendencies, growing instead directly from the ground. The plant is distinctly woody in its structure, lacking any non-woody or climbing habits, as it is a self-supporting tree rather than a liana, vine, or any form of obligate or facultative climber.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Plant height max:

50 m

Plant height mean:

45 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dryobalanops aromatica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical of many large tropical rainforest canopy trees that thrive in shaded or moderately lit environments. This metabolic process involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle, making it highly efficient in the humid, temperate, to tropical climates where the species is typically found. Furthermore, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogenous compounds directly from the soil through its root system rather than establishing symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Dryobalanops aromatica is facilitated through the production of seeds that play a critical role in its dispersal and population recruitment. The seeds of this species exhibit a highly consistent morphological profile regarding their weight, with recorded data indicating a uniform seed mass. Specifically, the seed mass remains constant at a mean value of 3.75 g, which is mirrored by both the maximum and minimum observed seed mass values of 3.75 g. This lack of variance in seed mass suggests a standardized energy investment per seed during the reproductive cycle, ensuring that each unit produced maintains a specific density and size for successful germination and establishment within its natural habitat.

Seed mass mean:

3.75 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dryobalanops aromatica has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Chemicals

Dryobalanops aromatica has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include SODIUM, Vaticanol B, camphor.

SODIUM

1. Pharmacological research

Vaticanol B

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

camphor

1. MethodsX

Conditions

Dryobalanops aromatica has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Dengue fever, Hepatitis C Virus, antioxidants.

Dengue fever

1. Tropical biomedicine

Hepatitis c virus

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Antioxidants

1. MethodsX

Preparations

Dryobalanops aromatica has 3 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extract, methanol extracts, extracts.

Aqueous extract

1. Pharmacological research
2. Biochemical pharmacology

Methanol extracts

1. Genes & nutrition
2. Tropical biomedicine

Extracts

1. Tropical biomedicine