Gorjon or Gurjan, Dipterocarpus turbinatus

-

Gorjon or Gurjan (Dipterocarpus turbinatus, family: Dipterocarpaceae) is a diciduous lofty tree with a long straight bole forming a crown at the top with few branches, attaining a height of 50 m. Bark is grey. The young parts of the long-living tree, especially the leaf buds and young shoots are covered with gray-colored hairs. Trunk emits a kind of sticky sap. It is found in the forests of Chattogram, Chattogram Hll Tracts and Sylhet. The giant tree is also found in several countries of South and Southeast Asia. 

Other names: Telia gorjon, Teli gorjon, Dhulia gorjon, Kali gorjon (Bang); Garjan balsam (Eng). 

Leaves are simple, big, ovate-lanceolate, bright green, 12-30 cm long and 08-12 cm wide, petioled, alternate, edge undulated, tip pointed. The texture of veins are quite strong and clear. Leaves arise from the long and whitish or brownish stipules. The young leaves are glossy, spectacular bronze-colored.

Flowers are pinkish white, leathery, tubular, in raceme inflorescence, 6-8 cm wide, petals 5. The scented flowers bloom in the summer.

Fruits are nuts, winged, like the other members of Dipterocarpus genus (Shal, Telshur etc.), 10-12 cm long, connected to persistent calyx. Fruits mature in June-July. Propagation is caused by fresh seeds.

It has much importance as avenue tree. It is a good timber tree. Wood is reddish or deep brownish, quite hard, durable. It is used to make furniture, boat, railway sleeper and houses. 

The leaf bud comes from the lap of stipule

A kind of oil is obtained from its wood. This oil is used for melting varnish and lithography ink. This oil is used to protect wood from insects and to prevent rust on iron. The gum is used in injury, roundworm, skin diseases, gonorrhoea and in urinary disorder. 

The juvenile fruits

Synonyms: Dipterocarpus jourdainii, Dipterocarpus jourdainii, Dipterocarpus laevis, Dipterocarpus mayapis, Dipterocarpus turbinatus var. ramipiliferus, Hopea laevis, Hopea trinervis, Mocanera mayapis, Shorea trinervia

Comments

Post a Comment

Week Star

Makal or Mahakal, Trichosanthes tricuspidata

-
Image
Makal or Mahakal ( Trichosanthes tricuspidata , family: Cucurbitaceae) is a woody climber with tendril and branches, attaining a height of 10-12 m. The multiangular-branched plant climbs up very far by holding any tree in the forest. It is found in the hilly areas as well as plain forests and village thickets in Bangladesh. It is also found in Indian subcontinent, Australia and some countries of South and Southeast Asia.  According to ancient Sanskrit scriptures the other names of the plant are Bishala, Mohendro-baruni.  In the Himalayas it has been seen at an altitude of 5000 feet. There are many refferences to the fruit in Bangla and Sanskrit literature. Someone is very nice to look at but he/she is useless--writers usually jokingly give examples of this fruit. Its roots and attractive fruits are packed with medicinal properties.  The size and shape of leaves may vary. These are multilobed or trilobed, alternate, rough in both sides, 5-12 cm long, petioled, cor
Read more

Parul or Fragrant padri tree, Stereospermum chelonoides

-
Image
Parul or Fragrant padri tree ( Stereospermum chelonoides , family: Bignoniaceae) is a medium or large-sized deciduous tree with branches, attaining a height of 25 m. Young shoots are pubescent. Bark is grey.  About this flower, a kind of literary madness has been found for a long period of time among the Bengalees. Although it is mentioned numerous times in Bangla literature, the tree is quite difficult to find in Bangladesh.  The great news is, 5 of its trees are found in the courtyard of Bangladesh Security Printing Press School in Gajipur. India is the original home of the plant. Leaves are compound, 60 cm long; leaflets are entire, 5-11, deep green, glabrous, petioled, elliptic-oblong, 10-15 cm long and 3-6 cm wide, apex acuminate. Flowers are sweet-scented, purplish, yellow at center, campunulate, 3-5 cm long, curved at the base and bronze in color, on terminal panicle; corolla tubular with short petals, petals 5. Flower buds are black and deep p
Read more

Guloncho, Heart-leaved moonseed, Tinospora cordifolia

-
Image
Guloncho or Heart-leaved moonseed ( Tinospora cordifolia , family: Menispermaceae) is a deciduous creeper with hard and long stem, climbing other trees or fences. Bark on the stem is as thin as paper. Aerial roots come out of the stem when the plant grows older. The plant is found everywhere in Bangladesh except southern part. It is also native to South and Southeast Asia.  Common names: Heart-leaved moonseed, Guduchi, Giloy, Guloncho, Guroncho, Padma guloncho. Leaves are simple, green, alternate, cordate, 6-15 cm long and 5-13 cm wide.  Inflorescence, growing from the axil of leaflet branches, bears yellow flowers. Male and female flowers bloom separately. Sepals 6, arranged in two rows, petal 6, pistils 3. Fruit is a drupe, brilliant red when ripe. This attractive fruit is inedible to human.                                                            What an extensive climber! Tinospora cordifolia is used in weakness, tastelessness, rheumatis
Read more