Aquilaria beccariana van Tiegh,
Ann. Sc. Nat. Bot. 7, 17 (1893)
Named after O. Beccari [1843-1920], an Italian botanist.
Synonyms
Aquilaria cumingiana var. parviflora Airy Shaw, Aquilaria
grandifolia Domke, Gyrinopsis grandifolia (Domke) Quis.
Description
Sub-canopy tree up to 28 m tall and 91 cm dbh. Stipules absent. Leaves
alternate, simple, penni-veined with wavy horizontal tertiary venation,
glabrous. Flowers ca. 4 mm diameter, white-yellow, with long corolla tube,
placed in panicles. Fruits ca. 28 mm long, green-yellow, pod-like capsule. Seeds
with long, caterpillar like appendage (for dispersal?).
Ecology
In undisturbed mixed dipterocarp, keranga and sub-montane forests up to 1000
m altitude. Often along rivers and streams and on ridges. On sandy to clay
soils. In secondary forest usually present as a pre-disturbance remnant.
Uses
The fungi infected wood is used to produce a valuable incense (gaharu).
Distribution
Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo (Sarawak, Brunei, Sabah, West- and
East-Kalimantan).
Local names in Borneo
Aru, Engkaras, Engkeras, Enkaran, Gaharu, Karas, Kekaras, Mebuaan.
