AQUILARIA SINESIS (AGAR WOOD)

Aquilaria agallocha, treated here as a synonym of Aquilaria malaccensis, is sometimes considered to be a distinct species; in which case it is native to Eastern Nepal, northeastern India whilst Aquilaria malaccensis is native to Malaysia. + Synonyms Common Name: Agar Wood Aquilaria malaccensis Looking up the trunk into the canopy Photograph by: Ahmad Fuad Morad Creative Commons License Aquilaria malaccensis Aquilaria malaccensis Aquilaria malaccensis Aquilaria malaccensis General Information Aquilaria malaccensis is an evergreen tree growing up to 49 metres tall, though it is usually rather smaller at around 20 metres. The bole can be up to 60cm in diameter. The aromatic resin obtained from this tree is one of the most famous and most expensive on the planet. It has a very long history of use in religious ceremonies, at funerals etc in the Orient and is widely sought after as an ingredient in perfumery. Commonly harvested from the wild, trials are being carried out into growing it in plantations. The tree has been heavily overexploited in the wild leading to strong concerns that it could become extinct[310 ]. It is listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List (2009) and is considered critically endangered in India. Known Hazards None known Botanical References Range E. Asia -Eastern Nepal, northeast India through Myanmar, Malaysia to Indonesia and the Philippines. Habitat An upper canopy tree, commonly found scattered in dense primary forest and the more open, secondary formations, mainly in plains but also on hillsides and ridges up to 750 metres. Mostly by rivers and streams and on ridges with sandy soils.