Kingdom Plantae Family Gentianaceae Scientific name Fagraea fragrans Rank Species | Order Gentianales Genus Fagraea Higher classification Fagraea | |
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Similar Millingtonia hortensis, Cassia javanica, Cassia bakeriana Craib, Sacred Tree, Cassia surattensis | ||
Camphor tree planting at tembusu college
The Tembusu (Fagraea fragrans) is a large evergreen tree in the family Gentianaceae. It is native to Southeast Asia. Its trunk is dark brown, with deeply fissured bark, looking somewhat like a bittergourd. It grows in an irregular shape from 10 to 25m high. Its leaves are light green and oval in shape. Its yellowish flowers have a distinct fragrance and the fruits of the tree are bitter tasting red berries, which are eaten by birds and fruit bats.
Contents
Fragraea fragrans i pohon tembusu
Common names
Buabua (Fiji Islands), Urung (Philippines), Temasuk (Sabah), Tatrao, Trai (Vietnam), Kan Krao (Thailand), Tembesu (Indonesia), Anan, Anama (Burma), Munpla (Thailand, Laos).
Uses
The trunk of this tree can produce very hard wood that can be used to make chopping boards. The wood can last over 100 years, particularly as termites and weevils do not eat this kind of wood. People always use this wood for creating the floors of their homes and love to sleep on it.