Gorjon Tree 1
Gorjon Tree or Gurjan (Dipterocarpus turbinatus, family: Dipterocarpaceae) is a diciduous lofty tree with a long straight bole forming a crown at the top with few branches, attaining a height of 50 m. Bark is grey.
The young parts of the long-living tree, especially the leaf buds and young shoots are covered with gray-colored hairs. Trunk emits a kind of sticky sap. It is found in the forests of Chattogram, Chattogram Hll Tracts and Sylhet. The giant tree is also found in several countries of South and Southeast Asia.
Other names: Telia gorjon, Teli gorjon, Dhulia gorjon, Kali gorjon (Bang); Garjan balsam (Eng).
Gorjon Tree
Leaves are simple, big, ovate-lanceolate, bright green, 12-30 cm long and 08-12 cm wide, petioled, alternate, edge undulated, tip pointed. The texture of veins are quite strong and clear. Leaves arise from the long and whitish or brownish stipules. The young leaves are glossy, spectacular bronze-colored.
It has much importance as avenue tree. It is a good timber tree. Wood is reddish or deep brownish, quite hard, durable. It is used to make furniture, boat, railway sleeper and houses.
A kind of oil is obtained from its wood. This oil is used for melting varnish and lithography ink. This oil is used to protect wood from insects and to prevent rust on iron. The gum is used in injury, roundworm, skin diseases, gonorrhoea and in urinary disorder.
Gorjon Tree products Wood used in construction, furniture and paper pulp are all timbers and products produced or derived from them are timber products. Some monocotyledons produce woody stems, lack sapwood and heartwood, their products are specific eg bamboo products, cane products, etc.
The products produced from the stems are often called timber products. Products produced/derived from woody parts of plants are termed as wood products. Products are source and origin oriented, all timbers are not suitable for all timber products or all purposes.
Suitable timber species or timber parts are selected and judged from numerous variabilities for a specific product. Other products such as food, drink, oils, fibres, dyes, aromatics, cosmetics, medicines, plastics, resins, tannins, rayons, linens, rubbers, preservatives, insecticides, alkaloids, poisons, etc, produced from plants are called plant products or herbal products.
hroughout Bangladesh, besides composite timbers, solid woods are used for internal domestic works such as in making doors, windows, furniture, cabinet, panel works, etc, the timber species Teak, Chapalish, Chickrasi, Gamari (Gmelina arborea), Sil Koroi (Albizia procera), Jarul (Lagerstroemia speciosa) are extensively used.
For agricultural implements and boat building, localized timbers are traditionally used. Teak, Jarul and Sundari are used for making quality boats and launches, and Babla wood (Acacia nilotica) is used for making ploughs and carts. Garjan (Dipterocarpus species) is widely used for many purposes but without preservative treatment it is not enough durable.
The Gorjon species Poa (Melia azadirach) is used for making musical instruments, and Gamari and Mehagoni are widely used for all small articles and toys because of their fine texture, workability and natural durability.
