Shorea ovalifolia
Overview
Doona ovalifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Dipterocarpaceae. It is a tree endemic to Sri Lanka. It is known as pini-beraliya in Sinhala. It grows along shallow streams in the remaining lowland rain forests of southwestern Sri Lanka. The tree has been extirpated from its original collection locations of the 1860s. Populations were recently found at Ayagama (2020) and Kelinkanda (2023).
Shorea ovalifolia faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive logging operations targeting its valuable timber across Borneo's lowland forests. Agricultural expansion, particularly oil palm plantations, has eliminated vast areas of its primary habitat, while the species' slow growth rate and specific soil requirements make natural regeneration extremely difficult in fragmented landscapes.
Habitat
This dipterocarp tree species inhabits lowland mixed dipterocarp forests on well-drained soils, typically found at elevations below 300 meters across Borneo. It requires primary or old secondary forest conditions with specific mycorrhizal associations and cannot survive in heavily disturbed or plantation environments.
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in DIPTEROCARPACEAE
Threatened in Sri Lanka
Frequently asked questions
Why is Shorea ovalifolia classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Shorea ovalifolia live?
What are the main threats to Shorea ovalifolia?
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