Litsea firma (Blume) Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 5 (1886)
Latin for 'strong'.

Synonyms
Litsea cylindrocarpa Gamble, Litsea turfosa Kosterm., Tetranthera firma Blume

Description
Upper canopy tree up to 41 m tall and 61 cm dbh. Stipules absent. Leaves alternate, simple, penni-veined, usually glabrous, sometimes whitish below, tertiary venation forming conspicuous reticulate network. Flowers ca. 9 mm diameter, yellow, placed in axillary bundles. Fruits ca. 11 mm long, red-purple, drupes placed on enlarged flower base (cupule).

Ecology
In undisturbed mixed dipterocarp, keranga and swamp forests up to 500 m altitude. On alluvial sites as well as dry hillsides and ridges. On sandy to clay soils, but also on limestone. In secondary forests usually present as a pre-disturbance remnant tree.

Distribution
Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo (throughout the island), Philippines, Celebes, Moluccas, New Guinea.

Local names in Borneo
Medang, Medang pirawas.