INTRODUCTION

The Standard Malaysian Name for the timber of Anisoptera spp. (Dipterocarpaceae). The common vernacular names applied include kijal (Terengganu), loh (Pahang), medang sawa (Peninsular Malaysia), mersawa (Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak) with various epithets, pengiran (Sabah) with various epithets, rengkong (Pahang), sanai (Peninsular Malaysia), sepah petri (Negeri Sembilan) and terbak (Kedah, Perlis and Kelantan). Major species include A. costata, A. curtisii, A. grossivenia, A. laevis, A. marginata, A. megistocarpa and A. scaphula. The sapwood is not sharply defined from the heartwood, which is light to dark yellow and darkens on exposure.  

Also known as Anisoptera (Australia); Mersawa (Brunei); Phdiek, Trabak and Ven ven (Cambodia); Ketimpun, Masegar, Mersawa and Mersawa daun lebar (Indonesia); Bak and Mai Bak (Laos); Boilam, Kaban, Kaban thangyin and Kaunghmu (Myanmar); Garawa (Papua New Guinea); Afu, Dagang, Dagum and Palosapis (Philippines); and Kabak, Krabak, Kra-Bark, Pik and Tabak (Thailand).

DENSITY

The timber is a Light Hardwood with a density of 515-735 kg/m3 air dry.

TEXTURE

Texture is moderately coarse but even, with shallow to deeply interlocked and sometimes slightly spiral grain.

USES

The timber is extremely popular as a plywood species. Other uses include light construction, door and window frames and sills (internal use only), posts, beams, joists, rafters, furniture, pallets (expendable type), packing boxes and crates, joinery, cabinet making, flooring, staircase (newel, sprandrel framing, tread, bullnose, round end and winder), tool handles (non-impact) and disposable chopsticks.