Lagerstroemia floribunda Jack, Malayan Misc. 1(5): 38 (1820)

Synonyms
Lagerstroemia turbinata Koehne

Diagnostics
This tree is famous for its showy, colourful, fragrant and long-lasting pink-purple flowers, fading to white, which are borne in large panicles at the end of branches in the summer months. The spreading crown bears leaves which are smooth above and densely brownish hairy beneath and are held on sinewy, fluted stems and branches with a mottled appearance that arises from having bark that sheds throughout the year.

Description
Tree to 13(-25) m tall and up to 60 cm diameter. Leaves oblong-elliptic, 6-23 x 4-10 cm; young leaves with stellate hairs above and along veins beneath, late glabrescent; base broadly cuneate or somewhat rounded, apex obtuse or rarely acute; petioles 3-7 mm long. Inflorescences 20-40 cm long, rusty stellate-tomentose. Flower buds turbinate, 10-12-ridged; calyx, 6-lobed; petals oblong, gradually cuneate towards the base, margin wavy; stamens numerous, unequal; ovary subglobose, densely brown-tomentose. Capsules ellipsoid- oblong, 12-16 x 7-11 mm, sparsely tomentose all over; persistent calyx cup-shaped, lobes oblique or recurved.

Ecology
Lowland forests and in comparatively open spaces, secondary forest, along rivers and also in primary forest

Uses
Widely cultivated as an ornamental tree. The tree is often harvested from the wild for its attractive wood, which is used locally and also traded. The wood is suitable for use under cover, being suitable for purposes such as interior finishing, panelling, sliced and rotary peeled veneer, high class furniture manufacture, carving and domestic flooring. It is reported to be popular for use in boat building in Thailand and some parts of the Indo-China regions.

Distribution
From southern China into Indochina and Peninsular Malaysia. Often found outside its original range as a planted ornamental tree.

Local names
English: Thai crape myrtle.
Malay: Kedah bungor.