Gonystylus velutinus Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. (1950)

Latin for 'velvety', referring to the hairs on the lower leaf surface.

Description
Upper canopy tree up to 50 m tall and 89 cm dbh. Stipules absent. Leaves alternate, simple, penni-veined but venation inconspicuous, densely hairy lower surface. Flowers ca. 8 mm diameter, yellow, placed in racemes to panicles. Fruits ca. 38 mm diameter, orange, dehiscent capsules, exposing seeds with aril.

Ecology
In undisturbed mixed dipterocarp and keranga forests up to 300 m altitude. Mostly on hillsides and ridges, but also along rivers and streams. On sandy soils. In secondary forests usually present as a pre-disturbance remnant.

Uses
The wood is used for house construction.

Distribution
Sumatra, Borneo (Sarawak, Brunei, Sabah, West-, Central- and East-Kalimantan).

Local names
Borneo: Bankirai warek, Ramin, Ramin batu, Ramin bukit, Resik, Seranai.