Erima Octomeles sumatrana

Erima Octomeles sumatrana

Octomeles is a monotypic genus of plant in family Telramelaceae. The sole species is Octomeles sumatrana commonly called Erima in PNG, is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, PNG, the Philippines, and the Solomon Islands. The tree is dioecious and large, reaching up to 75 m (250 feet) in height and up to thirteen feet (four meters) in diameter above the buttresses. A pioneer species, it regenerates quickly in disturbed habitats such as logged forest and previously cultivated land. It has been known to grow as much as 82 feet (25 meters) in height and up to 18.5 inches (0.47 meters) diameter at breast height (DBH) in just four years. Like other pioneer species, it is relatively short lived. The wood is used for several purposes, especially where strength is not important. The wood can only be used under cover for light furniture and joinery, interior finish, mouldings, wide shelves, louvred doors, coffin boards, large dugout canoes, rafts, sledges, jungle drums, concrete shuttering, packing, low-quality crates and boxes, buoys and fish-net floats, matchboxes, back and core veneer, firewood, chipboard, and fibreboard, and for pulp and paper manufacture.

Source Barry Conn (NSW) & Kipiro Damas (LAE). Guide to trees of Papua New Guinea. PNGTreesKey Conn and Damas.

Erima as plantation species Stennin Bay WNB.

Photo credit Dick McCarthy.