Litsea castanea Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 5 (1886)

Latin for 'chestnut brown'.

Note
Very similar to Litsea firma (Blume) Hook.f.

Synonyms
Malapoenna castanea Kuntze

Description
Upper canopy tree up to 41 m tall and 87 cm dbh. Stipules absent. Leaves alternate, simple, penni-veined, glabrous, conspicuous reticulate network of tertiary venation. Flowers ca. 12 mm diameter, yellow, placed in axillary bundles. Fruits ca. 15 mm long, red, fleshy drupes placed on enlarged flower base (cupule).

Ecology
In undisturbed mixed dipterocarp, keranga and sub-montane forests up to 1900 m altitude. Usually on ridges with sandy soils, but also found on limestone. In secondary forests usually present as a pre-disturbance remnant tree.

Distribution
Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo (Sarawak, Sabah, East-Kalimantan).

Local names
Borneo: Birajang, Medang, Patinong.