A review of dipterocarps - Center for International Forestry Research
A review of dipterocarps - Center for International Forestry Research
A review of dipterocarps - Center for International Forestry Research
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Non-Timber Forest Products from Dipterocarps<br />
content in the bark <strong>of</strong> Dipterocarpus tuberculatus is<br />
24%, while young leaves have 10-12% and may be used<br />
in direct light leather tanning. Sal bark, together with the<br />
leaves and twigs, is also a promising tanning material.<br />
The tannin content is: bark 7%, young leaves 20%, twigs<br />
and leaves 22% and powder dust 12%. The aqueous<br />
extract <strong>of</strong> bark is a pale reddish colour and the tannins<br />
are <strong>of</strong> pyrogallol type. The extract is used locally <strong>for</strong><br />
cheap tanning or in a blend with other tanning materials.<br />
The dry leaves <strong>of</strong> H. odorata contain 10% tannin and<br />
are used in crude tannery. The tannin extract is rich and<br />
produces strong leather (Anon. 1985a, Agarwal 1986).<br />
The fruit <strong>of</strong> Vateria indica contains 25% tannin.<br />
Lac Host<br />
A few <strong>dipterocarps</strong> are known to host the lac insect<br />
(Lacifer lacca), a source <strong>of</strong> lac. Shorea roxburghii, a<br />
species found in Burma and India, is a valuable host in<br />
South India, and yields a good crop when inoculated with<br />
‘Deverbettakusum’ variety in Karnataka. Shorea talura<br />
is another important lac host plant <strong>of</strong> Karnataka in India<br />
(Krishnamurthy 1993). Shorea obtusa, a species found<br />
in Burma, is an occasional host and sal is the source <strong>of</strong><br />
the ‘Kusumi’ strains <strong>of</strong> lac insect.<br />
Other Products<br />
In addition to the important products described above<br />
there are other dipterocarp NTFPs. The sal tree yields<br />
many <strong>of</strong> these products. Its leaves are a good source <strong>of</strong><br />
income to the tribals in India who make them into plates<br />
and cups or use them as wrappers <strong>for</strong> home-made cigars.<br />
They are also used <strong>for</strong> thatching huts in the villages and<br />
as a medium to poor grade fodder containing 0.94%<br />
nitrogen and 2.97% ash. Sal leaves are one <strong>of</strong> the primary<br />
hosts <strong>of</strong> tassar silk-worm (Antheraea mylitta). Roasted<br />
sal seeds, although not very palatable, are sometimes<br />
eaten, and decorticated seeds are used as poultry feed.<br />
Dried seed meal contains: moisture 5.23%; protein<br />
6.16%; ether extractive 16.77%, crude fibre 4.81%, N.<br />
free extractive 63.25%, calcium 0.18%, total ash 3.78%<br />
and acid insoluble ash 0.95%.<br />
A light grey, somewhat granular cellulose gum is<br />
prepared from the bleached, bright cellulose obtained<br />
from the spent bark. This compares favourably with<br />
commercial grade technical gums. The cellulose from<br />
the spent bark is also suitable <strong>for</strong> making wrapping paper.<br />
Lignins from wood waste are used as wood-adhesive. The<br />
bark is oily, bitter, acrid and anthelmintic and can cure<br />
194<br />
ulcers, wounds and itches. It is also a useful raw material<br />
<strong>for</strong> fibreboards (WOI 1988). Sal oil cake, used as cattle<br />
and poultry feed, contains 10-12% protein and about 50%<br />
starch. It can also be used as a fertiliser. Sal flowers are<br />
produced in abundance and are the source <strong>of</strong> honey. Santal<br />
tribals use the bark <strong>for</strong> preparing red and black dyes and<br />
wood ash in dyeing.<br />
A number <strong>of</strong> minor products derived from the wood<br />
also need mention. Wood <strong>of</strong> Shorea robusta and Vatica<br />
lanceaefolia is extensively used as firewood and <strong>for</strong><br />
making charcoal. However, fuelwood should only be<br />
harvested at the time <strong>of</strong> clear felling at fixed rotations<br />
when unsuitable wood <strong>for</strong> timber can be utilised <strong>for</strong><br />
firewood and charcoal making. The branches and thick<br />
twigs can be converted into charcoal in a specially<br />
designed kiln <strong>for</strong> supplementing the energy requirements<br />
after converting charcoal into briquettes. Briquetted<br />
charcoal and sawdust are good fuels <strong>for</strong> domestic and<br />
industrial purposes. Briquettes made with suitable<br />
binders from inferior grade gum, gum resin or pulp and<br />
juice from Agave/Furcraea species (Verma et al. 1979,<br />
Gulati et al. 1983) without the traditional use <strong>of</strong> clay<br />
and molasses ignite easily, do not emit smoke and<br />
provide sustained heat.<br />
The sal tree is considered to be the home <strong>of</strong> spirits<br />
and many gods, and tribals build their shrines under its<br />
shade and worship the tree as a whole. The Bagdis and<br />
Bauris tribes <strong>of</strong> Bengal are married under an arbour made<br />
<strong>of</strong> its branches. The sal tree in full bloom is worshipped<br />
in some villages by childless couples. Buddhists also<br />
worship the tree as it is believed that Buddha’s mother<br />
held a branch in her hands when Buddha was born, and it<br />
was under the shade <strong>of</strong> this tree that Buddha passed the<br />
last night <strong>of</strong> his life on earth (Bennet et al. 1992).<br />
Other valuable <strong>dipterocarps</strong> in the South Asian region<br />
include:<br />
• Hopea odorata <strong>of</strong> which the bark is an astringent and<br />
masticatory <strong>for</strong> gums.<br />
• Vateria copallifera <strong>of</strong> which the cotyledons are ground<br />
into an edible flour and the bark is used <strong>for</strong> arresting<br />
toddy fermentation (Anon. 1985a).<br />
• V. indica <strong>of</strong> which the fruit is ground into flour. The<br />
seed cake, unpalatable to livestock, is used as a manure,<br />
especially in c<strong>of</strong>fee plantations. However, the cake,<br />
when mixed with other concentrates such as bran or<br />
groundnut cake, can be utilised <strong>for</strong> cattle feeding. The<br />
bark is an antidote (alexipharmic) in Ayurvedic<br />
preparations. The juice <strong>of</strong> the leaves is applied to burns