{{Short description|Genus of tropical trees}} {{Speciesbox |image = Biggest Chengal tree.jpg |status = EN |status_system = IUCN3.1 |status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 16 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Pooma, R. |author2=Barstow, M. |author3=Newman, M.F. |date=2017 |title=''Neobalanocarpus heimii'' |volume=2017 |article-number=e.T32314A2813845 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T32314A2813845.en |access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> |display_parents = 2 |genus = Neobalanocarpus |parent_authority = P.S.Ashton |species = heimii |authority = (King) P.S.Ashton |synonyms = {{species list |Balanocarpus heimii|King |Balanocarpus wrayi|King |Pierrea penangiana|F.Heim ex Brandis}} |synonyms_ref =<ref name=POWO>{{cite web |url= https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:321115-1 |title= Neobalanocarpus heimii (King) P.S.Ashton |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=February 16, 2025}}</ref> }}
'''''Neobalanocarpus''''' is a monotypic genus of plants in the family Dipterocarpaceae. The single species, '''''Neobalanocarpus heimii''''', is a tropical hardwood tree. Common names for the tree and its wood products include '''''chengal''''', '''''chan ta khien''''', '''''chi-ngamat''''', '''''takian chan''''', and '''''takian chantamaeo'''''. The tree grows over {{convert|60|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} tall. Chengal is considered the number one wood (classified as heavy hardwood) of Malaysia and export of logs is prohibited due to its scarcity. The species is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red list.<ref name="iucn status 16 November 2021" />
== Distribution == 300px|thumb|Chengal tree, Peninsular Malaysia, 2005 ''Neobalanocarpus heimii'' is endemic to the Malay Peninsula and grows under quite a range of conditions of soils and topography in Peninsular Malaysia (and southern Thailand) from low flat semi-swamp to hills, but appears to thrive best on undulating land with light sandy soils. See Wildlife of Malaysia.<ref name="Malay Timbers">100 Malaysian Timbers, published by Malaysian Timber Industry Board, 1986, p16/17</ref> It is now extinct in Singapore,<ref name="exsitu">{{cite web |last1=Marzalina |first1=M. |last2=Nashatul |first2=Z.N.A. |last3=Jayanthi |first3=N. |title=EX SITU CONSERVATION EFFORTS FOR Neobalanocarpus heimii IN MALAYSIA |url=http://www.fao.org/3/ac648e0c.htm |website=www.fao.org |publisher=Forest Research Institute Malaysia |access-date=3 May 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and possibly extinct in Thailand.<ref name="Plantuse">{{cite web |title=Neobalanocarpus (PROSEA) - PlantUse English |url=https://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Neobalanocarpus_(PROSEA) |website=uses.plantnet-project.org |access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref>
== Description == ''Neobalanocarpus heimii'' can grow to be a large tree over 60 metres tall, with a straight, unbranched trunk, averaging 90 cm in diameter, and with obvious supporting buttresses. Its simple, leathery leaves are arranged alternately, and are elliptical to lanceolate, between 7 and 17 cm in length, and 2.5 and 5 cm in width.<ref name="Plantuse"/> The largest tree in peninsular Malaysia is a ''Neobalanocarpus heimii'' at the Pasir Raja Forest Reserve in Dungan, Malaysia which is {{convert|65|m}} height and {{cvt|16.75|m}} girth, with buttresses up to {{cvt|10.6|m}} long and {{cvt|7.6|m}} high.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.1rom.com.my/content/article-show.asp?id=410 |last= Tai | first= Alyna | title= Land Rover Owners Club of Malaysia - Wonders of Mother Nature - by Luis J. A. Wee | date= n.d. | access-date=January 14, 2005}}</ref>
It is widespread in mixed dipterocarp forests, growing to altitudes up to {{convert|1000|m|ft}}, preferring soils that are friable and well-drained land.<ref name="Plantuse"/>
== Uses == [[File:Chengal House.jpg|300px|thumb|Chengal house in the museum in Kuala Terengganu, 2005]] [[File:Traditional Malay boat building.jpg|300px|thumb|Chengal in traditional Malay boatbuilding on Duyong Island, 2004]] Chengal has been used for furniture making, house and boat-building.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObhAAQAAIAAJ&q=chengal+house+boat |title = The Crafts of Malaysia|year = 1994|isbn = 978-981-3018-07-5|last1 = Othman |first1 = Sulaiman (Dato' Haji| publisher=Editions Didier Millet }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b44c1SXmJhYC&q=flexible+chengal | title=Materials Handbook| isbn=978-0-07-150184-2| last1=Vaccari| first1=John A.| date=9 July 2002| publisher=McGraw Hill Professional}}</ref> Despite its extreme strength and hardness, chengal is highly flexible before it is fully cured, making it suitable for plank bending (boat building). It is also highly resistant to rot, fungi and mildew. In addition, chengal has a relatively low shrinkage ratio<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GdoOAQAAMAAJ&q=chengal+similar+to+teajk+color |title = Manual of Malayan Timbers|last1 = Desch|first1 = Harold Ernest|year = 1941}}</ref> (only inferior to teak), which makes it excellent for applications where it undergoes periodic changes in moisture. Chengal, like teak, has the unusual properties of being both an excellent structural timber for framing, planking, etc., while at the same time being easily worked and finished to a high degree.
Chengal may be varnished but does not necessarily need a "finish". The wood naturally weathers to a silver-grey colour similar to teak. It can be easily planed, drilled or turned. Nailing is very difficult and the wood often has to be pre-drilled.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}
=== Durability === [[File:Chengal in the sawmill - 2003.jpg|300px|thumb|Chengal in a sawmill in Terengganu state, 2003]] The timber is classified as naturally durable and is normally very resistant to termite attack<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hds8AAAAYAAJ&dq=chengal+termite&pg=PA27 |title = Insecticides from Plants, a Review of the Literature, 1954-1971|last1 = Jacobson|first1 = Martin|year = 1975}}</ref> and fungal infestation. Under graveyard test conditions, untreated specimens of size 50 mm × 50 mm × 600 mm lasted 9 years. Treated specimen of the same size and test conditions lasted about 19 years. Untreated railway sleepers of size 238 mm × 125 mm × 1,950 mm laid under severe environmental conditions gave an average service life of 19 years. Termites do not attack the sound timber.<ref name="Malay Timbers"/>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[https://archive.today/20130615212700/http://woodwizard.my/report.asp?ItemID=22 Woodwizard Information site]
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q787773|from2=Q661108}}
Category:Dipterocarpaceae Category:Dipterocarpaceae genera Category:Monotypic Malvales genera Category:Flora of Thailand Category:Flora of Peninsular Malaysia Category:Forestry in Malaysia Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Category:Taxa named by Peter Shaw Ashton Category:Taxa named by George King (botanist)