Hopea odorata, or ta-khian (Thai: ตะเคียน), is a species of plant in the family Dipterocarpaceae. It is found in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.[1] It 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 altitudes between 0 and 600m. In places such as West Bengal and the Andaman Islands it is often planted as a shade tree.[3] Valued for its wood, it is a threatened species in its natural habitat.[4]

Hopea odorata
Leaves of Hopea odorata
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Dipterocarpaceae
Genus:	Hopea
Species:	H. odorata
Binomial name
Hopea odorata Roxb.
Synonyms[2]
List Hopea vasta Wall. nom. inval. Hopea wightiana Miq. ex Dyer nom. inval.

Traditions

In Thailand this tree is believed to be inhabited by a certain tree spirit known as Lady Ta-khian (Thai: นางตะเคียน),[5] belonging to a type of ghosts related to trees known generically as Nang Mai (นางไม้).[6]

Gallery

• 
  A leaf of Hopea odorata
• 
  Lengths of brocade tied around the exposed roots of a Hopea odorata tree (ตะเคียน) growing on a steep slope as an offering to Nang Ta-khian
• 
  Nang Ta-khian
• 
  Hopea odorata at Hùng Temple, Vietnam

References

External links

• Media related to Hopea odorata at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Hopea odorata at Wikispecies
• Hopea odorata Roxb.
• Buddha Magic Thai Beliefs in the Nang Ta-Khian Tree Spirit within Hopea Odorata trees

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