Hopea odorata is a species of tree in the plant family Dipterocarpaceae. It is found in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Description

H. odorata is a large tree reaching up to 45 m in height with the base of the trunk reaching a diameter of 4.5 m. It grows in forests, preferably near rivers, at elevations to 600 m. In places such as West Bengal, the Andaman Islands and southern Vietnam it is often planted as a shade tree. Valued for its wood, which shows resistance to termites, it is a threatened species in its natural habitat.

Traditions

In Thailand, where it is known as ta-khian, this tree is believed to be inhabited by a certain tree spirit known as Lady Ta-khian , belonging to a type of ghosts related to trees known generically as Nang Mai (นางไม้).

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