Vatica rassak

Vatica rassak is a tree in the family Dipterocarpaceae, native to Maritime Southeast Asia. The specific epithet rassak is from resak, the species' Malay common name.[3]

Vatica rassak
At Singapore Botanic Gardens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Dipterocarpaceae
Genus: Vatica
Species:
V. rassak
Binomial name
Vatica rassak
Synonyms[2]
  • Retinodendron moluccanum (Burck) F.Heim
  • Retinodendron rassak Korth.
  • Vateria papuana (Dyer) Dyer ex Hemsl.
  • Vateria rassak (Korth.) Walp.
  • Vatica celebensis Brandis
  • Vatica celebica Slooten
  • Vatica moluccana Burck
  • Vatica papuana Dyer
  • Vatica papuana K.Schum.
  • Vatica schumanniana Gilg
  • Vatica subcordata Hallier f.

Description

Vatica rassak grows up to 30 metres (100 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 70 cm (28 in). Its coriaceous leaves are elliptic to oblong and measure up to 32 cm (13 in) long. The inflorescences bear cream flowers.[3] In Borneo, a newly discovered, unnamed special caterpillar makes use of the poisonous resin from this tree to build a cocoon.[4]

Distribution and habitat

Vatica rassak is native to Borneo, Java, the Maluku Islands, Sulawesi, New Guinea and the Philippines. Its habitat is along rivers and in lowland dipterocarp forest, at altitudes to 400 m (1,300 ft).[1]

References
  1. Barstow, M. (2018). "Vatica rassak". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T33152A68075897. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T33152A68075897.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. "Vatica rassak". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  3. Ashton, P. S. (2004). "Vatica L.". In Soepadmo, E.; Saw, L. G.; Chung, R. C. K. (eds.). Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak. Vol. 5. Forest Research Institute Malaysia. pp. 381–382. ISBN 983-2181-59-3.
  4. Symondson, William O. C.; Holloway, Jeremy D.; Goossens, Benoit; Müller, Carsten T. (Aug 2014). "Bornean caterpillar (Lepidoptera) constructs cocoon from Vatica rassak (Dipterocarpaceae) resin containing multiple deterrent compounds". Journal of Natural History. 49 (9–10): 553–560. doi:10.1080/00222933.2014.939731. S2CID 84977960.


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