General Information
Shorea roxburghii is a small to large deciduous to evergreen tree that can grow up to 40 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole is up to 95cm in diameter, with either small or no buttresses. The tree is harvested from the wild as a commercial source of the timber 'White Meranti', and also for local medicinal purposes, its edible flowers and its bark, which is used locally as a masticatory.
The tree is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2010)
Propagation
Seed best sown as soon as possible. It does not require pre-treatment, but it is recommended to soak the seed for 12 hours prior to sowing. The seeds are sown in seedbeds, where they are covered with a mixture of sand and soil (1:1) or with a thin layer of sawdust. Germination of fresh seeds is usually good and rapid. About two weeks after germination, when the seedlings are 5 - 6cm tall, they are potted up into individual containers about 15 x 23cm with good drainage holes at their base. It is normally recommended to use a mixture of forest soil and sand (at a ratio of 3:1) as the potting medium in order to introduce the appropriate mycorrhiza to the roots. The seedlings are placed in 50 - 60% sunlight and watered twice daily Seedlings can be planted out when 30 - 40cm tall - harden the seedlings off in full sunlight for one month prior to planting