INTRODUCTION

The Standard Malaysian Name for the heavy, red to red-brown timbers of the genus Shorea (Dipterocarpaceae). Vernacular names applied are too many to be listed here except for the more common ones, viz. balau laut merah (Peninsular Malaysia), balau merah (Peninsular Malaysia), damar laut merah (Peninsular Malaysia), membatu (Peninsular Malaysia), red selangan batu (Sabah and Sarawak), selangan batu merah (Sabah and Sarawak), semayur (Sarawak), seraya (Peninsular Malaysia) and seraya batu (Peninsular Malaysia). Major species include S. collina, S. guiso, S. inaequilateris, S. kunstleri and S. ochrophloia. The sapwood is pink, purple-brown or grey-brown and is fairly distinct from the heartwood, which is light to deep red-brown. 

Also known as Selangan merah (Brunei); Balau merah and Gisok (Indonesia); Mai si khao (Laos); Guijo (Philippines); Chan, Lantan and Teng-tani (Thailand); and Chai (Vietnam).

DENSITY

The timber is a Heavy Hardwood with a density of 800-880 kg/m3 air dry.

TEXTURE

Texture is moderately fine to slightly coarse and even, with deeply interlocked grain.  

USES

The timber is suitable for heavy construction under cover, beams, posts, joists, rafters, pallets (heavy duty), columns (heavy duty), tool handles (impact), joinery, cabinet making, fender supports, vehicle bodies (framework and floor boards), ship and boat building (keels, keelsons and framework), plywood, heavy duty furniture, flooring (heavy traffic), door and window frames and sills, staircase (carriage, angle block, rough bracket, riser, tread, bullnose, round end, winder, stringer and newel), cooling tower (structural members), railway sleepers (treated) as well as telegraphic and power transmission posts and cross arms (treated).