Palaquium gutta

Palaquium gutta is a tree in the family Sapotaceae. The specific epithet gutta is from the Malay word getah meaning 'sap or latex'.

Description
Palaquium gutta grows up to 40 m tall. The bark is reddish brown. Inflorescences bear up to 12 flowers. The fruits are round or ellipsoid, sometimes brownish tomentose, up to 2.5 cm long.

Distribution and habitat
Palaquium gutta is native to Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Borneo. Its habitat is lowland mixed dipterocarp, kerangas and limestone forests.

Uses
The seeds of Palaquium gutta are used to make soap and candles, occasionally in cooking. The latex is used to make gutta-percha. The timber is logged and traded as nyatoh.

Conservation
Palaquium gutta has been assessed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. The significant threat to the species is deforestation: in Borneo for conversion of land to palm oil cultivation.