Dipterocarpaceae

/ˌdɪptəroʊkɑrˈpeɪsiː/ noun

Definition

A large family of tropical trees native to Southeast Asia and Africa, valued for their timber and oils; characterized by two-winged fruits.

Etymology

From 'dipterocarp' combined with '-aceae,' the standard Latin suffix for plant families. This family includes over 600 species of economically important trees.

Kelly Says

Dipterocarpaceae trees produce some of the world's most valuable timber—teak, meranti, and others—but they're also disappearing fast because rainforests are being cut down, which is devastating because these forests took millions of years to develop.

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