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

Edited May 14, 2011 by chinnotes

[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.