Woody > Shorea > Shorea robusta > Shorea robusta
Shorea robusta
Origin: Native to India.
Mike's
Opinion
"
This is a useful tree that can be grown in dry areas, offers shelter, aids in the production of medicines, and has religious significance. Being a deciduous tree, it contributes to soil preservation and carbon sequestration.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Dipterocarpaceae |
| Genus |
| Shorea |
| Species |
| robusta |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 10 - 12 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Greater than 9a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H1b - H2 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| 22 - 27 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 72 - 81 |
| Height |
| 45 m |
| Spread |
| 25 5 |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| This tree is tall and upright, and relieves pain and swelling related to inflammation. It is an evergreen in wetter regions, and a dry-season deciduous (shedding most of its leaves from February to April, then regaining them in April and May) in drier areas. |
| Landscape |
| The wood works especially well for framing windows and doors. The dried leaves of these trees are the main material used in India and Nepal to make patravali. Cattle and goats easily eat the used plates and leaves. |
| Cultivation |
| Tolerates light shade but prefers to be in full sun. Although it prefers a moist sandy loam with good subsoil drainage, it thrives in most fertile, well-drained soils. Tolerates 4.5 to 7.5 pH, but prefers a range of 5 to 6.7. |
| Shape |
| The crown is spherical and spreading, and the bole is clean, straight, and cylindrical, though it frequently bears epicormic branches. The thick, dark brown bark of mature trees has shallow longitudinal fissures near the tips, allowing for effective fire protection. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Even in their very early years, this species has a propensity to grow long, deep tap roots. The tree has oval to oblong leaves that are 10–20 cm long and 6–12 cm wide. They also have 12–14 pairs of lateral veins. |
| Pests |
| Seed and seedling borer is the primary insect pest of this tree. Pammene theristis Meyrick consumes the seed. Damage to seed caused by Sitophilus rugicollis Casey can occur on the forest floor, or while the seed is being stored. White grubs like Holotrichia spp. also target this tree. |
| Habitat |
| Shorea robusta is found in deciduous forests from sea level to a height of roughly 1500 meters; it is uncommon above 1000 masl. An estimated 14% of India's total forested area is composed of Shorea robusta trees. In certain regions of Nepal, it is also dominant. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| When Shorea robusta trees are younger, their bark is deeply fissured; however, as the trees get older, the fissures become increasingly shallow. Trees had an average DBH over bark of 48.7 cm, with a range of 10.8 cm to 112.7 cm and bark can be smooth, longitudinally fissured, or reddish brown or grey. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| The buds begin to open in late March, correlating with increasing daylight times and warming temperatures. Beginning in the month of March, flower buds develop into fully grown flowers in April. |
| Leaf Description |
| The ovate-oblong leaves measure 10–25 cm in length and 5–15 cm in width. Although this leaf appears thin, it is strong and sturdy and keeps its green colour for a long period of time. |
| Flower Description |
| Large, eye-catching clusters of cream-coloured, 2 cm in diameter flowers. Thrips disperse pollen from the flowers. Semi-evergreen, flushing in the spring. When winter's leaf fall arrives, Shorea robusta starts to flower. It blooms from January to April. |
| Fruit Description |
| At full size, the fruit measures 1.3–1.5 cm in length and 1 cm in diameter. Five somewhat uneven wings, each measuring 5-7.5 cm in length, encircle the fruit. These are segments of the calyx, and are brown in colour. |
| Colour Description |
| Bright green leaves that turn a deep green in the summer. Young trees have smooth, greyish-brown bark that eventually turns dark brown and becomes rough. They bear small, insignificant yellow-orange blooms in late winter or early spring, and their woody fruits range from green to brown. |
| Texture Description |
| It is commonly accepted that Shorea robusta has a medium to coarse texture. With the changing of the seasons, the bark, leaves, and general look of the tree tend to stay fairly constant in texture and appearance. |
| Notable Specimens |
| It is frequently planted in the vicinity of temples and other sites of religious significance. For both Buddhists and Hindus, it is a sacred tree. It is widely grown throughout the tropics of both the old and new worlds, in city parks and botanical gardens. |
| Propagation |
| Following capsule splitting, harvest seeds. Scarify by lightly nicking. Cold-stratify for 2 to 3 months prior to sowing. Use cuttings that are semi-hardwood and have been treated with a rooting hormone. For best results, maintain high humidity levels while propagating. Division is not very successful, and offsets are uncommon and infrequently used in propagation. For successful establishment, provide sunlight, well-draining soil, and regular irrigation. Keep an eye out for germination cues. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| The wood is particularly well-suited for building window and door frames. In India and Nepal, the production of patravali, or leaf plates and bowls, is primarily based on the dry leaves of sal trees. Goats and cattle readily consume the used leaves and plates. |
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