Belian tree, the iron wood of Sarawak (Borneo). I have travelled to most of SEA countries. Even to some temperate one. I can't find any timber species as hard and as long lasting as Belian. I can't get the botanical name, will do later, once I got hold of some forestry taxonomic book.
(2) In year end 1984, after my graduation, I followed MyUncle to look for durians and belian post in Nyelitak, Ulu Simunjan. Going up there we need to paddle through long, winding, and narrow fast running Batang Kiri. It take us about two days to reach Nyelitak from Simunjan town.
(3) I was more interested to take back the belian seeds and wanna try plant them at our alluvial MyGrand Pa coconut farm. I remembered, it took about a year then only the seeds begin to germinate. The growth was so slow, that lots of them were chopped off by MyUncle for mistaking them with the melastoma (senduduk). Only two trees survived, and had grown well in between the coconut (now oil palm).
(4) Today, I collected some of the seeds (each as big as our palm grip) from one of the tree, while the other one is just blooming (conspicuous florescence). I hope to sow the seeds and would plant them at some Public Places for our future generation to enjoy. I enjoy to see, MyLast 25 years effort proved to fruit, slowly, strongly, belian, a symbol of patience and determination, everything will do!
(Terasi, 2 May, 2009)
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13 comments:
Eusideroxylon zwageri
Thank, yet to check.
Bro, what do you think of "REFORESTRATION".. It can be one way to ensure the sustainability of many types of timber including belian...
..yeah bro...I would love to see a timber house made of from belian from the column, beams, trusses, floor, wall, roofing like those old old typical bugis and javenese house in sadong jaya or simunjan eh..
Eusideroxylon zwageri of the family Lauraceae, the Laurel family.
Typical bugis and javanese house??? How on earth I dont know that.. Well I should drive to Sadong Jaya or Simunjan this week end. So ... at least we still can see these "originality" exist...Thats great Bro...
Friends, there is not much belian-based home left in Pendam or Simunjan. Now, all those are being replaced with concrete building. Why not you drive to Jemoreng, Daro, you would still have lots of those, even in Tellian Mukah.
(2) Thanks sdra Bayu Senja. Yap the Laurel family.
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
PLANTAE TRACHEOPHYTA MAGNOLIOPSIDA LAURALES LAURACEAE
Scientific Name: Eusideroxylon zwageri
Species Authority: Teysm. & Binnend.
Common Name/s:
English – Billian, Borneo Ironwood
French – Bois De Fer
Range Description: Belian or ironwood is one of the most renowned timbers of Borneo, the decline of which was first noted in 1955. Population reduction has been noted in the following regions: Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sabah, Sarawak and the Philippines.
Countries:
Native:
Brunei Darussalam; Indonesia (Jawa, Kalimantan, Sumatera); Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak); Philippines
Habitat and Ecology: Generally a species of lowland primary forest.
Systems: Terrestrial
ups...if you go to Kpg Iboi, Pendam or Kpg Selangking or Kpg Sg Apin, Simunjan you will see many of those...
Alright Bro...
Does anyone know where viable seeds of Borneo Ironwood can be obtained for growing in other countries?
Hi.. Is it hard to plant this tree? I have 4 belian seedlings and almost 2 years old.. But I found out it cannot tolerate full sunlight. How come the wild belian can survive full sunlight?
How to grow belian from seedling? Not easy but easy. Sound funny? Not at all. Here is the trick. Place the seedling under pile natural sampah ie from falling leaves under good shade and a bit moist. Such is the ecology of belian in the natural state and the seedling germinate under such environment. It take at least a year for the seed to germinate. I had done it in 1984 to mark my graduation event and the timebr was harvested over last two years by my cousin in Kampong.
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