Definition

1. Noun:
   • A genus of trees: Shorea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Dipterocarpaceae. The trees in this genus are native to Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia.
   • A source of timber and resin: Trees of the genus Shorea are commercially important for their high-quality timber and are also known for being rich in resin.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The forest is dominated by several species of Shorea.
  • The timber from Shorea is highly valued for construction.
  • The resin extracted from Shorea trees is used in various industries.

Advanced Usage

• In botanical and forestry contexts: The genus name is always capitalized and often italicized in scientific writing.
  • The study focused on the ecological role of Shorea in the rainforest canopy.

Variants and Related Words

• Sal (): A specific and well-known species within the genus, native to the Indian subcontinent.
  • Sal wood is prized for its durability.
• Meranti: A common name for the timber produced by many species.
  • The furniture is made from red meranti.
• Dipterocarpaceae: The plant family to which the genus belongs.

Synonyms

• Meranti tree (when referring to the timber source).
• Resin-rich timber tree (descriptive synonym).

Notes

• is a taxonomic genus name. It refers to a group of related species, not a single specific tree. The common names (like meranti, lauan, sal) often refer to the timber or specific species within the genus.
• It is not typically used in idioms, phrasal verbs, or everyday conversational English. Its use is primarily technical, found in botany, forestry, ecology, and the timber trade.

Noun

1. genus of Indonesian and Malaysian timber trees rich in resin