Gonystylus

Gonystylus is a southeast Asian genus of about 30 species of hardwood trees also known as ramin, melawis (Malay) and ramin telur (Sarawak).

This article is about ramin, the hardwood. For other uses, see Ramin (disambiguation) and Ramen.

Gonystylus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Subfamily: Octolepidoideae
Genus: Gonystylus
Teijsmann & Binnendijk
Species

See text

Description

Ramin is native to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea, with the highest species diversity on Borneo. It is related to Arnhemia, Deltaria, Lethedon and Solmsia.[1]

Ramin is a medium-sized tree, attaining a height of about 24 m (80 ft) with a straight, clear (branch-free), unbuttressed bole about 18 m (60 ft) long and 60 cm (2 ft) in diameter. The trees are slow-growing, occurring mainly in swamp forests.[2]

Species

As of February 2014 The Plant List recognises 32 accepted species:[3]

Uses
Gonystylus spp. - MHNT

The white wood, harder and lighter in colour than many other hardwoods, is often used in children's furniture, window blinds, dowels, handles, blinds, and decorative mouldings.

However, over-exploitation has led to all species of ramin being listed as endangered species,[4] particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia. An estimated 90% of ramin in recent international trade is illegally logged.As the ramin forests themselves come under attack, the fragile ecosystems they support are also at risk. These trees provide the main habitat for other priority species such as the orangutan and the Indochinese, Sumatran and Malayan tigers.[5][6]

Sumatra

Sumatra’s peat swamp forests are an important habitat for ramin trees. The Sumatran ramin tree species are CITES protected species. The logging and trade of ramin has been illegal in Indonesia since 2001. Internationally, any illegal trade in Indonesian ramin is prohibited under the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Indonesian government maps show that 800,000ha (28%) of Sumatra’s peat swamp forest was cleared between 2003 and 2009. Some 22% of this clearance was in areas currently allocated to APP’s log suppliers.[7]

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See also

References
  1. Beaumont, A. J., T. J. Edwards, J. Manning, O. Maurin, M. Rautenbach, M. C. Motsi, M. F. Fay, M. W. Chase, and M. Van Der Bank. (2009) Gnidia (Thymelaeaceae) Is Not Monophyletic: Taxonomic Implications for Thymelaeoideae and a Partial New Generic Taxonomy for Gnidia.” Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 160 (4): 402–17.
  2. Ramin - The Wood Database
  3. "Chisocheton". The Plant List. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  4. "Ramin". Kew, England: Royal Botanic Gardens. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  5. "WWF". Retrieved 2018-01-30.
  6. The Ramin Paper Trail Asia Pulp & Paper Under Investigation - Part 2 Greenpeace March 1, 2012
  7. The Ramin Paper Trail Greenpeace March 1, 2012
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