The Sunda oak tree

The Sunda oak (Quercus argentata or Quercus pinanga) is a tree in the Fagaceae family, whose natural distribution extends from Peninsular Malaysia to the islands of Borneo, Sumatra and Java (Indonesia).

It owes its scientific name, argentata, to the silvery colour of the hairs on the underside of its leaves.

Use of Sunda oak

Grey-brown to dark reddish-brown in colour, sometimes tinged with yellow, Sunda oak wood is notoriously difficult to saw. It can, however, be used to make decorative veneers.

In terms of durability, Sunda oak is not very resistant to termite attack when in contact with the ground.

Characteristics of Sunda oak

Sunda oak is an equatorial oak, mainly found at altitudes of between 600 and 1,500 metres growing in sandy clay and sandy loam soils. But Sunda oak can also be found at altitudes of up to 2,700 metres.

An evergreen tree, the Sunda oak can grow to a height of 40 metres, with a trunk diameter of around 100 cm. Its tough leaves are 10 to 20 cm long and 3 to 8 cm wide. The underside of the Sunda oak’s leaves has a dense silvery tomentum*. Its acorns, which are ovoid or cylindrical, are 2 to 3 cm long and 1.5 to 2 cm wide and are encased in cupules in the shape of an inverted cone with denticulated and pubescent rings covering a third to half of the acorn.

*Area covered with short, thick hair.