What Seed Is This ?

[Member]

Thanks.

[chinnotes]

That's the seed of a tree called Dipterocarpus (literally "fruit with two wings").

Erwin

[Member]

That's the seed of a tree called Dipterocarpus (literally "fruit with two wings").

Erwin

Interesting, thanks !

[harsu]

Confirm that it is member of the Dipterocarpus family.

If the 'wings' of the fruiting body/seed were brightish pink when fresh, it is probably Dipterocarpus obtusiflius (called ยางเหียง in Thai) which grows up to 28m, has big broadly oval shaped leaves -which are hairy when young-, greyish very cracked looking bark and vivid pink flowers in Nov - late January. It's one of the main trees that make up dry dipterocarp forests in northern Thailand.

The other Dipterocarpus with very similar fruiting bodies is D. tuberculatus (พลวง ตึง) , but the leaves have a rounded or heart-shaped base, the flowers are pale pink-violet with a darker red-violet colour on one side only - flowers slightly later in Feb - April, and the fruiting body/seed has 5 lumps between the wings at the top where they join the 'round bit'. Tree grows up to 30m, and it is not a common tree.

So it's probably the first one.

If you are interested in trees - even if it's just to have the satisfaction of being able to say 'I think I know what that is' and you can get hold of a copy, I would highly recommend a paperback 'A Field Guide to Forest trees of Northern Thailand' - and I think they also publish similar guides to other areas of Thailand.

[rhino533]

I believe it's from the Yang Na tree Family. I have a Yang Na tree at my house that's huge and is about 100 years old and the seeds from that look very much the same except the the bottom part is a bit different. Have a look at this site: http://sgp.beta.undp.org/web/images/3499/flowers_of_mai_yang_na_or_yang_na_tree_diterocarpus_alatus_roxb_a_native_tree_of_thailand.html

[chinnotes]

As I wrote in my post it's a Dipterocarpus, this is sure. Also the tree shown in the link of rhino533's post ('Yang Na tree') is a Dipterocarpus (they call is erroneously Diterocarpus). To say which species of the Dipterocarpus genus it is, other parts of the tree like leaves or blossons are necessary...

Erwin

[lintonius]

Hi..just wondering if anyone has a few seeds of Dipterocarpus alatus they would be able to post to me in Australia. I've been looking for them for a long time since I saw them growing along the road near Chiang Mai. thanx.