Intsia palembanica | |
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Malacca teak watercolor, from the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Genus: | Intsia |
Species: | I. palembanica
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Binomial name | |
Intsia palembanica |
Intsia palembanica is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. Common names include Borneo teak, Malacca teak, merbau and Moluccan ironwood. It is native to tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia and the islands of the southwest Pacific.[4][5] Intsia palembanica differs from Intsia bijuga in the number of leaflets that make up the compound leaves.[6]
Intsia palembanica has been assessed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List. It is mainly threatened by logging for its timber, particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. The timber is sold locally and internationally.[1]
On 23 August 2019, the tree, locally known as pokok merbau, officially became the national tree of Malaysia. The then-Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, stated that it represented the strength and endurance of Malaysia's people.[5][7]