DIPTEROCARPACEAE

family of South Asian and African timber trees, in the tea order (Theales), comprising 22 genera. Most of the species are lofty trees with leathery, evergreen leaves and aromatic resins. Their clustered, fragrant flowers have five twisted, leathery petals. Dipterocarpus species provide a variety of products in addition to useful timber. Dipterocarpus glandulosa yields gurjun balsam, used in medicines. Many species in the genus Shorea, such as sal (Shorea robusta), also are valuable timber trees and produce useful resins. Dryobalanops aromatica produces Borneo camphor, used in East Asia for medicines, varnishes, and embalming. From Vateria indica comes a gum resin known as Indian copal; a similar resin comes from the larger V. acuminata. Other genera with useful timbers are Vatica, Hopea, and two African genera, Marquesa and Monotes. See also Shorea.