Skip to content

Rasamala

Altingia excelsa

Rasamala

Altingia excelsa

Rasamala tree or Altingia excelsa is native tree to Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, and northeastern India. It is often a gregarious species, often associated with species of oaks, podocarpus, quercus, and castanopsis. Rasamala is an evergreen tree thriving in mountainous areas. The tree remains green year-round, although its leaves can turn reddish-brown, especially as they mature.

Environmental Impact

  • ✔ Biodiversity Support, ✔ Carbon Sequestration, ✔ Erosion Control, ✔ Shading, ✔ Soil Conservation

Tree Usage

  • Economic, Food, Medicinal
Scientific name

Altingia excelsa

International name

Rasamala

Other name

Mala, Tulasan, Mandung 

Tree family

Altingiaceae

Status

Least Concerned 

Carbon Sequestration

Each mature tree can adsorb 710.75 Kg of carbon 

Native distribution

Himalaya, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia 

Characteristic

It can reach a height of 40-60 meters with a branch-free height of 20-35 meters, and a diameter of up to 80-150 cm. Young trees are very elegant with a dense pyramidal – later become more rounded crown. The bark light grey, smooth with narrow, longitudinal fissures and irregularly flakes. 

Habitat

It occurs naturally mainly in humid mixed hill and montane forests.  In Java, this species only grows in the western region at an altitude of 500-1,500 meters above sea level, in hilly areas and humid mountainous forests. 

Support Biodiversity Provide homes for more than 20 bird species, including the rare bird species of Indonesia like Javan hawk-eagle, and endemic primate, like the Javan gibbon (owa jawa).
Shading Rasamala trees thrive naturally in mountainous areas at altitudes of 1,000 to 1,200 meters above sea level, making them ideal shade trees for agroforestry in highland.
Preventing Erosion and Enrich Soil Rasamala trees have strong roots that help stabilize the soil and prevent erosion and landslides, especially in areas with unstable ground. Their roots also enrich the soil and support the growth of nearby trees.
Carbon Sink Rasamala trees contribute as effective carbon sink, as the trees can sequester significant amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosfer and reduce the effect of greenhouse gasses.
Aromatic Resin

The trees produce aromatic resin commonly used as a room fragrance, providing a source of income for local people 

Leaves

The leaves can be grinded as an expectorant to cure cough

Timber

Its timber is used in heavy construction, vehicle bodies, ship and boat building, heavy flooring, rafters, veneer, plywood, and pulp. 

  • The sweetly scented seeds are food for monkeys and birds. 
  • Its wood is very durable, even when in direct contact with the soil. 
  • Some local communities in West Java, Indonesia, consider the tree as a sacred tree for its fragrant odor.  
  • Rasamala trees thrive perfectly in West Java region and dominate the forest of Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park in Bogor, including one of the oldest, estimated to be 350 years old with a diameter of 4-meter. 
  • Local communities, especially in Java, eat fresh leaf tips as salad. 

Discover More Trees

avicennia marina

White Mangrove

Avicennia marina
Rhizopora Apiculata

Tall-stilt Mangrove

Rhizopora apiculata
Rudrakhsa (Jenitri)

Rudrakhsa (Jenitri)

Elaeocarpus ganitrus

Add Your Heading Text Here

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Click here