Hopea odorata


Hopea odorata is a species of tree in the plant family Dipterocarpaceae. It is found in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Description

H. odorata is a large tree reaching up to in height with the base of the trunk reaching a diameter of. It grows in forests, preferably near rivers, at elevations to. In places such as West Bengal, the Andaman Islands and southern Vietnam it is often planted as a shade tree. Valued for its wood, which shows resistance to termites, it is a threatened species in its natural habitat.

Traditions

In Thailand, where it is known as ta-khian, this tree is believed to be inhabited by a certain tree spirit known as Lady Ta-khian, belonging to a type of ghosts related to trees known generically as Nang Mai.