Endospermum philippinense Elmer ex Merr.

A medium-sized to fairly large tree of up to 35(-45) m tall, bole branchless for up to 20 m, up to 60 cm in diameter, bark surface smooth, grey-brown with an orange tinge and an unpleasant odour, inner bark hard, yellow-brown. Leaves sometimes peltate, elliptical to ovate-oblong, 11-25 cm x 9-18 cm, rounded to cordate at base, palmately 7-9-veined, the midrib with 4-9 pairs of lateral veins often carrying a gland beneath, petiole with 2 cylindrycal glands at the apex. Inflorescence paniculiform, long; male flowers with about 11 stamens, female flowers with a 2-3-celled ovary.

E. peltatum is fairly common in forests in humid localities, along rivers or on hillsides.

Peninsular Thailand, the Andaman Islands, Borneo, northern Sulawesi and the Philippines. Fairly commonly planted in the Philippines.

In the Philippines E. peltatum is, however, propagated mainly by seeds. The fruits are soaked in water for 24 hours and then macerated to separate the seeds. These are sun dried for 2-3 days. Before sowing the seeds are soaked in water overnight. The seeds are broadcast in raised seed-beds. In Malaysia the highest germination rate (80%) was obtained when using a 1 : 3 mixture of sand and organic topsoil. After sowing, the seeds are covered with about 2 cm of soil, and the seed-bed is mulched with dry grass, and subsequently watered. Usually the seeds start to germinate after about 24 days. Seedlings are potted when they have 2-4 leaves (about 20 days after germination) in a sterilized mixture of 50% organic topsoil and 50% sandy loam. Only vigorous seedlings of 20-30 cm tall should be planted into the field. In the Philippines (Mindoro and Mindanao) natural regeneration of E. peltatum is abundant 2-3 months after logging along with other secondary species. Approximately 35% of the seedlings survive after 6 months.

Seedling growth may be improved by applying fertilizer at the time of planting. The logging system employed for plantations is either clear cutting or by diameter limit (for matchwood and pulpwood often 30 cm). The rotation for clear cutting depends on site productivity; for E. peltatum it is often 15-20 years.

The seeds can be stored in polyethylene bags at a temperature of 15.5 deg. C. If stored for more than one month, the seeds become dormant and can only be used for sowing in the next season. Seeds buried 30 cm deep retain their viability for more than 9 months.

Reclamation: It is used in reforestation projects.

Food: The seeds are reported to be edible. Timber: E. peltatum is an important source of sesendok timber; the wood is especially used for matches, various kinds of sticks and wooden shoes. Spiral shavings of the wood of E. peltatum are used as core material in the manufacture of a panel locally known in the Philippines as 'placarol' because of their resistance to compression perpendicular to the direction of the spiral.