Ipil_(plant)

The Ipil or merbau is a tree that grows in mangroves in Southeast Asia and islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is a member of the tropical Caesalpiniaceae family. It grows to around 50 meters (160 feet) tall with a highly buttressed trunk. It is the official tree of the United States territory of Guam.

Due to extensive logging of the tree, it is endangered in many places in Southeast Asia, and almost extinct in some. Extensive amounts have been purchased for the venue of the 2008 Olympics. The wood is used for flooring in US and European markets where it is commonly sold under different names. Both licensed and unlicensed mills harvest the wood.

Uses

The tree\'s timber, called merbau, is a very durable and termite-resistant wood, making it a highly valued material for flooring and other uses. The wood can also be used to extract a dye. The bark and leaves of the ipil are used in traditional medicines. Merbau can contain a magical "gold" fleck that runs through the grain making it very attractive.

References

• Wild Singapore

External links

• CIRAD Forestry Department
• On illegal importation into China
• Tropical Building Systems Ltd.
• BINTUNI BAY NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN - IRIAN JAYA BARAT PROVINCE 2006-2030, Part 2, page 8.

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