TREE OF THE MONTH (PART 1) Almon (Shorea almon Foxw)

Physical characteristics

Almon is a large tree; it reaches up to 50 to 70 meters in height and is about 160 centimeters in diameter.

The bole is straight, almost cylindrical, reaching a length of about 60 meters. Its buttress is rather prominent in old almon trees. The crown is about 1/3 to 1/2 the length of the bole. It is wide spreading, flat, and irregular in shape but rather sturdy and compact.

Almon responds and develops most vigorously when exposed to full sunlight. Its growth shows a strong desire for light. It surpasses non-dipterocarps in size, volume, and importance.

The bark is about 15 millimeters in thickness and usually ridged. However, in trees 40 centimeters in diameter and below, the bark is almost smooth and brown in color. Bark looks darker in older trees and once exposed to strong sunlight, it becomes lighter in color. 

There are long furrows in big trees and between these furrows are flat ridges three to four centimeters wide. The ridges are not prominent on the lower shallow fissures of the bark. In older trees, the furrows are deeper, especially near the top.

The leaves are from eight to 18 centimeters long and three to eight and a half centimeters wide. They are simple, alternate, elliptic to oblong. A leaf is usually concave and rounded at the center base, generally thin and papery.

The flowers are attached directly to the branches or stems growing in clusters. Each flower is embraced or enfolded by two small unequal leaves or scales with short soft hair. The rough or sticky apical surface of the pistil, for reception of the pollen, is minute. The fruiting calyx is with eight wings usually eight to 12.5 centimeters long and 15 centimeters wide narrowed below but the base is dilated, slightly enclosing the fruit.

Locations

Almon can be found in non-seasonal parts of the country, in primary forests, and in well-drained soils, varying from gentle to medium-steep slopes at low altitudes. It is found in association with apitong and white lauan. The tree is also found in Luzon (Quezon, Camarines, Albay, Sorsogon), Negros, Samar, Leyte, Mindanao (Surigao, Agusan, Bukidnon, Davao, Misamis, Lanao, Zamboanga), and Basilan.

Method of Propagation

Almon can be propagated by both seeds and cuttings.

Contemporary Use

Almon is used for cabinet making, furniture, or interior trim, packing boxes, flooring, crates, utensils, mining timbers, and general construction. 

The wood is excellent in boat planking because the vessel of the wood’s tissues is plugged up with tylosis (small holes in the wood are full of deposits, thus inhibiting the passage of water). It is in great demand for plywood and both rotary and sliced veneer. Wood has beautiful ‘ribbon’ figures.

How to plant your almon seedling

Clear the area where you want to plant your seedling with unwanted weeds and debris. Make sure that a one-meter radius is kept free from other vegetation. Dig a plant hole with dimensions of at least 20 cm x 20 cm x 20 cm. Plant the seedling at proper depth. Root collar should be at level with or a little below the ground surface with the seedling oriented upward. Fill the hole with top or garden soil and press soil firmly around the base of the seedling. In plantation-making, seedlings should maintain a two-meter distance between seedlings if planted in a row of a three-meter distance from one strip to the next strip.

How to take care of your almon seedling

Remove grass and other unwanted vegetation and cultivate the soil around the base of the seedling (50 cm radius) once in every quarter for two to three years. Place mulch around the base of the seedling (maintaining the 50 cm radius and using cut grass, leaves and other suitable materials as mulch base). Prune the branches at most 50 percent of the crown depth, preferably during dry season, and ensure that when pruning, you do not injure the bark. Remove infected or infested vegetation nearby to stop plant diseases from spreading and contaminating your seedling. Monitor regularly the growth of the seedling for presence of pests and diseases.

Data about native tree species are featured by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. For suggestions, email [email protected].