Rank Species | Genus Hopea Higher classification Hopea | |
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Similar Dipterocarpus alatus, Pterocarpus macrocarpus, Afzelia xylocarpa, Hopea, Lagerstroemia floribunda | ||
Merawan siput jantan hopea odorata
Hopea odorata, or Ta-khian (Thai: ตะเคียน), is a species of plant in the Dipterocarpaceae family. It is found in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is a large tree reaching up to 45 m in height with the base of the trunk reaching a diameter of 4.5 m. It grows in forests, preferably near rivers, at altitudes between 0 and 600m. In places such as West Bengal and the Andaman Islands it is often planted as a shade tree. Valued for its wood, it is a threatened species in its natural habitat.
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Traditions
In Thailand this tree is believed to be inhabited by a certain tree spirit known as Lady Ta-khian (Thai: นางตะเคียน), belonging to a type of ghosts related to trees known generically as Nang Mai (นางไม้).
References
Hopea odorata Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA