Introduction The Standard Malaysian Name for the tree and timber of Cotylelobium spp. and Vatica spp. (Dipterocarpaceae). Vernacular names applied include resak (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak) with various epithets, balau (Peninsular Malaysia) in error, damar keluang (Pahang), jenuong (Johor) and keruing babi (Peninsular Malaysia). Major species include Cotylelobium lanceolatum, C. melanoxylon; Vatica bella, V. cuspidata, V. flavida, V. havilandii, V. heteroptera, V. lowii, V. maingayi, V. mangachapoi, V. nitens and V. scortechinii. The sapwood is lighter in colour than the heartwood and is sharply defined in Cotylelobium but not generally so in Vatica. The heartwood is pale yellow when fresh and turns to deep red-brown on exposure in Cotylelobium and a fine brown with a green tinge in Vatica. Also known as Resak (Brunei); Chrama:hs (Cambodia); Vatica (India); Giam, Resak and Resak bukit (Indonesia); Chik dong, Mai ka cha, Mai si and Mai si khao (Laos); Vatica (Papua New Guinea); Narig (Philippines); and Chan Thip, Dam Darng, Khian, Khiem, Kiam, Pan-Cham, See, Tamsao and Yang-nu (Thailand).
Botanical Name -
Natural Durability Graveyard tests on V. cuspidata, a species with an average air dry density of 1,040 kg/m3 indicated that the timber has an average service life of 14 years under natural conditions. The timber is therefore, classified as very durable under Malaysian conditions (Jackson, 1965). Desch (1941) recorded that tests carried out to determine the quality of resak timber indicated that some forms of resak were found to be exceptionally durable (presumably the heavier varieties), ranking with the best forms of balau and giam, and the inferior forms (presumably the lighter varieties) would appear to be at least moderately durable. Burkill (1935) stated that the timber of Cotylelobium is of excellent quality and resistant to Teredo, a type of marine borer. Burgess (1966) however, reported that the timber of Vatica species is not resistant to marine borers and failed within 12 months in Papua New Guinea. In general, resak should not be accepted as resistant to marine borers, but material of Cotylelobium, since it contains silica, is likely to be more resistant than Vatica.
Uses The timber is suitable for all forms of heavy construction, bridges, piling, marine construction, beams, posts, joists, pallets (permanent heavy duty), door and window frames and sills, tool handles (impact), flooring (heavy traffic), power transmission poles, laboratory benches, vehicle bodies (framework and floor boards), railway sleepers, fender supports, staircase (angle blocks, rough brackets, carriage, riser, stringer, tread, bullnose, round end and winder), cooling tower (structural members), telegraphic and power transmission posts and cross arms, heavy duty furniture and wooden containers.
Texture Texture is fine and even, with straight or only shallowly interlocked grain.
Density The timber is a Heavy Hardwood with a density of 655-1,155 kg/m3 air dry.
Shrinkage Shrinkage is high, especially in the tangential direction. Radial shrinkage averages 1.5% while tangential shrinkage averages 3.4%.
Defect The timber is generally free from any major defects except in some logs, which may contain some heart shakes and some accompanying decay. Compression failure is occasionally present in some logs. No "pin" or "shot" hole borer attack in the heartwood has been observed but the sapwood is liable to powder-post beetle attacks. Surface-checking of the timber is common but not severe. Some resin pockets may be present.