Gonystylus

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Gonystylus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Malvales Family: Thymelaeaceae Genus: Gonystylus Teijsm. & Binn.
Species
About 30, including: Gonystylus affinis Gonystylus bancanus Gonystylus calophylloides Gonystylus confusus Gonystylus consanguineus Gonystylus costalis Gonystylus decipiens Gonystylus forbesii Gonystylus glaucescens Gonystylus keithii Gonystylus lucidulus Gonystylus macrophyllus Gonystylus maingayi Gonystylus miquelianus Gonystylus nervosus Gonystylus nobilis Gonystylus pendulus Gonystylus spectabilis Gonystylus stenosepalus Gonystylus velutinus Gonystylus xylocarpus

Gonystylus, also known as ramin, is a genus of about 30 species of hardwood trees native to southeast Asia, in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea, with the highest species diversity on Borneo. Other names include melawis (Malay) and ramin telur (Sarawak).

Ramin is a medium-sized tree, attaining a height of about 24 m with a straight, clear,^[clarify] unbuttressed bole about 18–m long and 60–cm in diameter. It is slow-growing, and occurs mainly in swamp forests.

The white wood is often used in children's furniture and window blinds. It is used because it is harder and lighter colour than many other hardwoods. However, over-exploitation has led to all species of ramin being listed as endangered species, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia. An estimated 90% of ramin in recent international trade is illegally logged.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] References

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[edit] External links

• Species Survival Network factsheet (pdf file)
• CITES