Definition

Noun: * Agathis alba: A species of large coniferous tree belonging to the genus Agathis (family Araucariaceae), native to the Moluccas and Philippines. It is a commercially significant source of dammar resin.

Usage

• The term Agathis alba is used as a proper noun, the scientific (Latin) name for a specific tree species. It is primarily used in botanical, forestry, and commercial contexts.
• It functions as a singular noun but can be pluralized as Agathis alba trees when referring to multiple individual trees of this species.

Examples

• Scientific/Commercial Context:
  • The forests of the Philippines are home to Agathis alba, a valuable timber tree.
  • Agathis alba is harvested for its high-quality dammar resin.
  • The study compared the growth rates of Agathis alba and other tropical conifers.

Advanced Usage

• In formal botanical writing, the genus name () is often italicized, and the specific epithet () is always in lowercase: Agathis alba.
• The species may be referred to in a broader ecological context:

Variants and Related Words

• Common Names: This species is also known regionally as Moluccan kauri, Philippine kauri, or amboina pine. These are not scientific names but vernacular terms.
• Dammar: A hard resin obtained from trees of the genus , including , used in varnishes, incense, and other products.
• Kauri: A general common name for trees in the genus . is one of many kauri species.
• Araucariaceae: The botanical family name to which the genus belongs.

Synonyms

• Moluccan kauri
• Philippine kauri
• Amboina pine

Note: These are common name synonyms, not scientific synonyms. The accepted scientific name is Agathis alba.

Noun

1. native to the Moluccas and Philippines; a source of dammar resin