Cratoxylum formosum (Jack) Dyer, in Hook.f. Fl. Br. Ind. 1 (1874)
Latin for 'beautiful'.

Synonyms
Elodea formosa Jack

Description
Sub-canopy tree up to 23 m tall and 39 cm dbh. Stem with white to yellow latex. Leaves opposite, simple, penni-veined, glabrous, secondary venation conspicuously looping. Flowers ca. 15 mm diameter, pink-purple, placed in bundles. Fruits ca. 15 mm long, green-yellow-brown, dehiscent capsules filled with many flat winged seeds.

Ecology
In undisturbed mixed dipterocarp, keranga, (peat)-swamp, mangrove and coastal forests up to 300 m altitude. Mostly on alluvial sites, but also on hillsides and ridges. On sandy to ultrabasic soils. In secondary forests usually present as a pre-disturbance remnant tree.

Uses
Wood used for indoor construction.

Distribution
Andaman Islands, Indo-China, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo (throughout the island), Philippines, Celebes.

Local names in Borneo
Dat tetong, Entemu, Geronggang, Geronggang derum, Kajo jelan, Mampat, Melan, Mirinos, Nyalin bahe, Obah bukit, Patok tilan, Raja tugag, Sarungan, Sidodot.