Melanorrhoea usitata

Melanorrhoea usitata
Melanorrhoea usitata
Illustration from Plantae Asiaticae Rariores
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Melanorrhoea
Species: M. usitata
Binomial name
Melanorrhoea usitata
Wall. (1829)

Melanorrhoea usitata (also known as Burmese Lacquer[1], Theetsee[2], Thitsi[3] or Ringas[4]) is a tree of the Anacardiaceae family.

It is a large deciduous tree with a straight clean cylindrical bole and a spreading crown of dark green leaves.[3]

This species is used in Burma as a source of lacquer used for producing varnish, water-proof or preservative paint, glue, ceramic and lacquerware.[2][3] Timber (known as Borneo rosewood[4][5]) is used for furniture and inlay work.[2]

Both tree's sap and sawdust can cause dermatitis and skin irritation.[2]

It is an endangered species.[6]

Synonyms include: Gluta usitata Ding Hou.[2]

An incompletely identified 4-heptadec(en)yl catechol, which was named thitsiol, has been reported to occur in this species.[2] Sap also contains urushiol.[7]

References

  1. ^ Melanorrhoea usitata at ZipcodeZoo.com
  2. ^ a b c d e f Melanorrhoea usitata in BoDD – Botanical Dermatology Database
  3. ^ a b c Khine Khine Tun, Khin May Lwin. "Study on the Betterment of Fast Drying Quality of Myanmar Lacquer through Modification Method". Myanmar Academy of Agricultural, Forestry, Livestock and Fishery Sciences. http://www.myanmar.gov.mm/AgJurnal/ProcFo01-12.pdf. Retrieved 13 June 2010. 
  4. ^ a b Howard, Alexander L (2007). A Manual of the Timbers of the World - Their Characteristics and Uses. pp. 225, 317. ISBN 9781406733501. http://books.google.com/books?id=ixfB0SWFieYC&pg=PA317&lpg=PA317&dq=%22Melanorrhoea+usitata%22+%22Borneo+rosewood%22&source=bl&ots=cTvCACQgiY&sig=Sh-ldpMABGVh0hRqEB8RslE0fs4&hl=en&ei=xeUUTPWPNISYOJDa1YsM&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CDYQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=usitata&f=false. 
  5. ^ "Borneo Rosewood (melanorrhea usitata)". Griffin Exotic Wood. http://www.exoticwood.biz/borneorosewood.htm. Retrieved 13 June 2010. 
  6. ^ Nghia, Nguyen Hoang. "Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources in Vietnam". Food and Agriculture Organization. http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/ARTICLE/WFC/XII/0040-B3.HTM. Retrieved 13 June 2010. 
  7. ^ "Economically Important Plant Families". http://waynesword.palomar.edu/econpls.htm. Retrieved 13 June 2010. 

External links

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