| Vatica rassak | |
|---|---|
| | |
| At Singapore Botanic Gardens | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Dipterocarpaceae |
| Genus: | Vatica |
| Species: | V. rassak |
| Binomial name | |
| Vatica rassak | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Vatica rassak is a tree in the family Dipterocarpaceae, native to Maritime Southeast Asia. The specific epithet rassak is from resak, the species' Malay common name. [3]
Vatica rassak grows up to 30 metres (100 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 70 cm (28 in). Its coriaceous leaves are elliptic to oblong and measure up to 32 cm (13 in) long. The inflorescences bear cream flowers. [3] In Borneo, a newly discovered, unnamed special caterpillar makes use of the poisonous resin from this tree to build a cocoon. [4]
Vatica rassak is native to Borneo, Java, the Maluku Islands, Sulawesi, New Guinea and the Philippines. Its habitat is along rivers and in lowland dipterocarp forest, at altitudes to 400 m (1,300 ft). [1]