Hymenodictyon orixense (Roxb.) Mabberley

A small to medium-sized tree up to 25 m tall; bole usually rather straight, up to 50 cm in diameter; bark surface smooth, greyish-brown. Leaves opposite, simple, entire, obovate or ovate to elliptical-lanceolate, with scattered minute hairs all over the upper surface; stipules ovate, with tiny teeth-like glands on the margin. Inflorescence terminal, paniculate, reflexed but with the lateral branches curving upwards. Flowers 5-merous; calyx lobes minute; corolla trumpet-shaped, short-hairy outside; stamens inserted in the throat of the corolla tube, filaments minute; ovary inferior, 2-locular with many ovules. Fruit an ellipsoid, 2-valved, loculicidal capsule, many-seeded. Seed flat and winged all around. Seedling with epigeal germination.

Seed can be dispersed over a long distance by wind.

Regeneration is usually confined to open spaces in the forest, which may explain why H. orixense is more frequent in (but not restricted to) drier areas where the forest is more open than in the rain forest. In the Philippines it is often found in secondary forest at low and medium altitudes and on cliffs near the sea. H. orixense is not resistant to fire.

H. orixense can be propagated by seed, but direct seeding is not recommended as the seed is very small (about 170 000 seeds/kg) and easily washed away. Seed usually germinates easily, but loses its viability within a year. It should be sown in seed-beds and lightly covered with fine soil or fine sand and watered frequently, but sparingly. The first seedlings appear after 10 days. When 2-3 months old they can be pricked out into containers. The more vigorous seedlings can be planted out after one year, others should be kept in the nursery for another year. Seedlings are light-demanding and easily killed by weeds.

Planting in the open may present some problems.

There are about 170 000 seeds/kg.

Medicine: In India the bitter bark is used in local medicine as an astringent and febrifuge. Timber: The wood of H. orixense is used locally in house building, e.g. for planks, and sometimes for boats; it is also used for boxes, scabbards, packing-cases, implements, toys and matches. In India it has been recommended for cheaper grades of furniture, warper bobbins and wood-wool board.