Intsia spp.

Specifications

Family

Fabaceae

Species

Intsia spp.

Common name

Intsia spp.
Commonly known as

Borneo teak

Description

The sapwood is yellowish, clearly distinct from the brown or reddish-brown heartwood. The texture is coarse, the grain interwoven, and the density varies between 0.60 and 1.00. Sawing is difficult, but the mechanical strength is good, while the sapwood has poor durability but the heartwood is excellent, under all conditions.

Plant morphology

These are large trees up to 50 meters tall with a columnar trunk supported at the base by buttress roots. The bark is yellowish-brown. The terminal buds are enclosed by spirally arranged, pinnate-compound leaves. The inflorescences are terminal or axillary and consist of small, zygomorphic flowers. The fruit is a legume.

Natural occurrence

Countries of origin and distribution

Southeast Asia: Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines; Pacific Islands; Madagascar.

Habitat and ecology

Species of this genus are widespread in coastal and marshy areas, especially in mangrove zones.

Uses

Use class

CU1

CU2

CU3

CU4

CU5

Application areas

It is used in carpentry, load-bearing structures, railway sleepers, boats, heavy carpentry, velodromes, flooring, window and door frames, and cabinet making.

Threats and Conservation

Threats

Habitat destruction, selective logging.

Conservation measures

Not reported.

IUCN Red List IUCN

Intsia palembanica NT - Near Threatened (2020); I. bijuga NT - Near Threatened (2020).

CITES. Year of assessment CITES

CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento

Not present.

Technical data

Aesthetic characteristics

Grain

Obvious

Texture

Coarse

Physical and mechanical properties

Density
ρ

830 kg/m³

Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.

MPa

Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.

MPa

Bending strength
M.O.R.

115 MPa

Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.

15440 MPa

Durability characteristics

Fungal resistance

Durable

Insect resistance

Resistant

Miscellaneous

From a commercial point of view, the species of interest in the genus Intsia are: I. palembanica Miq., I. bijuga Ktze., and I. bijuga var. retusa (Kurz) Sanjappa. Another species of interest is Afzelia rhomboidea (Blanco) Fern.-Vill., formerly known as Intsia acuminata Merr.