Angsana in bloom over all over Northern Sarawak

The angsana tree is a good landscape tree to have in any town or city. It can give a lot of shade and its flowers are pretty. When in bloom, the flowers give a special fragrance. People walking by would enjoy the fragrance.

Taiping in Malaysia is particularly famous for its angsana trees.

Photo by Sarawakiana

It is a large deciduous tree which can grow up to 40 m tall. This tree in Miri has a huge trunk. It is probably more than 30 years old.

Flowering is usually from February to May in Miri, especially after a spell of dry season.

Unknown to many of us, both flowers and leaves are said to be edible.

The leaves are often used by local people for waxing and polishing brass and copper.

It is also a source of resin. The locals in Indonesia use the leaves and flowers to combat tumors.

The angsana is a hardwood and is termite resistant. It is rose scented. In Indonesia this wood is known as amboyna is the burl of the tree, named after Ambon.

It is the national tree of the Philippines, as well as the provincial tree of Chonburi and Phuket in Thailand. (Source : Wikipedia)