Ramin

? Ramin
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Malvales Family: Thymelaeaceae Genus: Gonystylus Teijsm. & Binn.
Species
About 30, including: Gonystylus affinis Gonystylus bancanus Gonystylus confusus Gonystylus forbesii Gonystylus macrophyllus Gonystylus maingayi Gonystylus miquelianus Gonystylus velutinus

Ramin (Gonystylus) is a genus of about 30 species of hardwood trees native to southeast Asia, in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea, with the highest species diversity on Borneo.

Ramin is a medium-sized tree, attaining a height of about 24 m with a straight, clear, unbuttressed bole about 18 m long and 60 cm in diameter. It is slow-growing, and occurs mainly in swamp forests.

The white wood is often used in children's furniture and window blinds. It is used because it is harder and lighter colour than many other hardwoods. However, over-exploitation has led to all species of ramin being listed as endangered species, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia. An estimated 90% of ramin in recent international trade is illegally logged. Other names include melawis (Malaysia) and ramin telur (Sarawak).

External links

• Species Survival Network factsheet (pdf file)
• CITES