Shorea

Shorea is a genus of tropical hardwood trees in the family Dipterocarpaceae, comprising roughly 150 to 200 species. They are native to tropical Asia, ranging from the Indian subcontinent to New Guinea, with the greatest diversity in Borneo, Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, and the Philippines. The genus is named in honor of Sir John Shore, a British colonial administrator.

Shorea trees are typically large evergreen canopy trees, often reaching 25–60 meters in height, with buttressed trunks and simple, glossy leaves. They exhibit a variety of flowering patterns, including irregular, mass flowering events known as mast fruiting in some species. Seeds are usually dispersed by wind or animals, depending on the species, and Shorea occupies a range of lowland to mid-elevation tropical forests, where it often plays a key ecological role.

Economically, Shorea species are highly valued for their timber. Wood from Shorea is marketed under trade names such as meranti, lauan, and seraya and is widely used for plywood, construction, carpentry, and furniture. Timber properties vary among species, but Shorea wood is generally dense and durable, contributing to its prominence in timber markets across Southeast Asia.

Conservation concerns for Shorea include extensive logging and habitat loss, leading to many species being listed as vulnerable or endangered on the IUCN Red List. Sustainable forestry practices, protected areas, and restoration programs aim to preserve Shorea species and the ecological functions of tropical forests in which they occur. Taxonomic complexity and regional revisions continue to refine species delimitation within the genus.