Red Mempat or Yellow Cow Wood tree (Cratoxylum cochinchinense )
We have been studying trees with peeling barks last week and this week.
One such tree that is easily identified by its bark is the Red Mempat or Yellow Cow Wood tree (Cratoxylum cochinchinense ) from the family Hypericaceae.
It is a medium sized tree about 30 m high, native to Myanmar, Indo-China, South China, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, Philippines
Often easily recognisable by its pale brown to reddish-brown bark which is patchy because it peels off in long pieces.
The lance-shaped or elliptic leaves are quite narrow, thin in texture, and are red when young. The flowers are usually deep red, but they can also be pink or orange.
INTERESTING FACTS
This tree produces a timber which is known by the trade name derum and is moderately hard and moderately heavy to heavy.
Derum is used for medium to heavy construction, and has been used to make tool handles, wood pallets, and woodcuts. Other parts of the plant are also of value as the young fruit can be used as a spice for cooking, while the twigs, bark, and roots have been used to treat colds and diarrhea .
ETYMOLOGY
Genus name means Strong wood' in Greek, referring to the timber
Species From Cochinchina, the name used to refer to southern Vietnam during its French colonial period
Source
Reference
Plants of Singapore
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