Shorea siamensis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Rosids |
Order: | Malvales |
Family: | Dipterocarpaceae |
Genus: | Shorea |
Species: | S. siamensis |
Binomial name | |
Shorea siamensis Miq. |
Shorea siamensis (also called dark red meranti, light red meranti, or red lauan) is a species of plant in the Dipterocarpaceae family. The tree is growing in most of Southeast Asia and is found in Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia.
In Cambodia, this tree is rare and most often seen near Buddhist pagodas and shrines. According to legend one of Buddha's incarnations was born under an s. siamensis tree and it thus share a strong connection to Cambodia's Buddhist culture. The leaves of the tree are used in traditional Cambodian medicine as a tea for easing child birth.
The tree is known by various local names: