Vateria indica

IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR)
.
Vateria
indica L., Sp. pl. 1:515. 1753;.
.
¿ vah-tay-REE-uh ? — named for Dr Abraham Vater, German professor of medicine and botany Dictionary of arts and sciences Volume 6 or The British encyclopedia by William Nicholson
IN-dih-kuh or in-DEE-kuh — of or from IndiaDave’s Botanary
.
commonly known as: Indian copal tree, Indian gum anime, Malabar tallow tree, piney varnish tree, white dammar • Gujarati: ચંદ્રસ chandras, રાળ નું વૃક્ષ raal nu vrksha, સફેદ ડામર safed daamar, સર્જક sarjaka • Hindi: कहरुबा kahruba, सफेद डामर safed daamar • Kannada: ಬಿಳಿ ಧೂಪ bili dhupa, ಬಿಳಿ ಗುಗ್ಗಲ bili guggala, ಬೆಳುವ beluva, ಧೂಪದ ಮರ dhupada mara, ಹಾಗಡ haagada, ಉಗುಳುಧೂಪ uguludhupa • Konkani: धूप dhoop • Malayalam: കുന്തിരിക്കപ്പൈൻ kunthirikkappayin, പയിനി payini, വെള്ളപ്പൈൻ vellappayin • Marathi: चंद्रुस chandrusa, धूप dhoop • Odia: ମନ୍ଦଧୂପ mandadhupa, ସନ୍ଦରସ sandarasa • Persian: کـﮩربا kahruba • Punjabi: ਸੁੰਦਰਸ sundaras • Sanskrit: सर्जकः sarjakah • Tamil: துருளக்கம் turulakkam, வெள்ளைக்குங்கிலியம் vellai-k-kunki-liyam • Telugu: తెల్లగుగ్గిలము tellaguggilamu • Tulu: ತಂದೊಳಿಗೆ tandolige • Urdu: گگل guggul
Names compiled / updated at https://dineshvalke.blogspot.com/2025/01/vateria-indica-l.html

.

Habit- Tall trees generally up to 40 m sometimes goes up to 60 m.

Trunk & Bark- Bark greyish, smooth; blaze cream.
Branches and Branchlets- Young branchlets subterete, stellate hairy.
Exudates- Exudates resinous.
Leaves- Leaves simple, alternate, spiral; stipules caducous; petiole 2-3.5 cm, swollen at apex, nearly glabrous; lamina 8-27 x 4.5-10 cm, elliptic-oblong, apex abruptly acuminate or obtuse, base rounded to subcordate, margin entire, coriaceous, glabrous; midrib flat above; secondary nerves 13-20 pairs; curved near margin, impressed above; tertiary nerves slender, closely obliquely percurrent.
Inflorescence / Flower- Inflorescence axillary panicles with dense stellate hairs; flowers white; anthers yellow.
Fruit and Seed- Capsule, pale brown, 3-valved, oblong to 6.4 x 3.8 cm, calyx persistent, reflexed; seeds 1.
Common canopy to emergent trees in low and medium elevation wet evergreen forests, up to 1200 m.
Endemic to the Western Ghats- South and Central Sahyadris.
(Attributions- B. R. Ramesh, N. Ayyappan, Pierre Grard, Juliana Prosperi, S. Aravajy, Jean Pierre Pascal, The Biotik Team, French Institute of Pondicherry from India Biodiversity Portal)
,

Native: India (Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu)

A slow-growing species, found primarily in the west coast evergreen forests, and also occasionally in secondary evergreen dipterocarp forest in the south.
The timber has been overexploited, particularly for the plywood industry. Loss of habitat and other human activities have also contributed to population declines.
Citation:Ashton, P. 1998. Vateria indica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 November 2014.

.


/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC02249.JPG
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC02251.JPG

seedlings of vateria indica:
photographs of seedlings of vateria indica


– Have one at my farm at Shahapur. Sending a photograph.


This is one of the endangered species.


– I am posting the grown up trees from Agumbe, Shimoga district, Karnataka in a separate posting.


– all attaching the image of Vateria indica in bloom…
    IUCN status Status: Critically Endangered   A1cd   ver 2.3 <http://www.iucnredlist.org/redlist/categories_criteria_2_3>



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_2422-1.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_2439.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_2423-4.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_2440.JPG
ID confirmation MS310311 -20 -Vateria indica:
Vateria indica (salu doopada mara in kannada)-  the grown up trees from Agumbe, Shimoga district,  Karnataka.  The photos were taken in a garden maintained by Forest department. photos taken on 27.12.2010. These trees are grown on the roads as well.



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/100_9810.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/100_9809.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/100_9812.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/100_9807.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/100_9805.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/100_9818.jpg

Vateria indica seedlings from Kerala:
Seedlings of Vateria indica from Palakkad district, Kerala. Family: Dipterocarpaceae.
Indian copal tree.
Grows into a large beautiful evergreen tree.


This is a wonderful shade tree as well gives good shade throughout the year.


Have planted one on my property. Had written about it previously and it available at this link :
https://groups.google.com/indiantreepix/thread/c4…
Sending a few more recent photographs.

One can see plenty of these beautiful trees on the Shimoga Agumbe high way near Agumbe


/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/6792206022_fcf2e57edd_b.jpg

Names of Plants in India :: Vateria indica L.:
Vateria indica L. … (family: Dipterocarpaceae)

Flowers of India Discussions at efloraofindia more views in flickr more views on Google Earth
¿ vah-tay-REE-uh ? — named for Dr Abraham Vater, German professor of medicine and botany
Dictionary of arts and sciences Volume 6 or The British encyclopedia by William Nicholson
IN-dih-kuh or in-DEE-kuh — of or from IndiaDave’s Botanary
commonly known as: Indian copal tree, Indian gum anime, Malabar tallow tree, piney varnish tree, white dammarHindi: सफेद डामर safed daamarKannada: ಬಿಳಿ ಡಾವರು bili daamaru, ಬಿಳಿ ಧೂಪ bili dhupa, ಧೂಪದ ಮರ dhupada maraMalayalam: കുന്തിരിക്കപ്പൈന്‍ kuntirikkappayin, പയിനി paini, വെള്ളപ്പൈന്‍ vellappayinMarathi: चंद्रुस chandrusaOriya: ମନ୍ଦଧୂପ mandadhupa, ସନ୍ଦରସ sandarasaSanskrit: सर्जकः sarjakahTamil: துருளக்கம் turulakkam, வெள்ளைக்குங்கிலியம் vellai-k-kunki-liyamTelugu: తెల్లగుగ్గిలము tellaguggilamu
botanical names: Vateria indica L. … synonyms: no synonym known
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Photographed at Kateli near Joida, Karnataka on 21 FEB 12
Many thanks to … for the ID
… more views at flickr.


¿ vah-TAY-ree-uh ? — named for Dr Abraham Vater, German physician, anatomist, botanist, professor, author … Wikipedia

IN-dih-kuh or in-DEE-kuh — of or from India … Dave’s Botanary

commonly known as: Indian copal tree, Indian gum anime, Malabar tallow tree, piney varnish tree, white dammar • Gujarati: ચંદ્રસ chandras, રાળ નું વૃક્ષ raal nu vrksha, સફેદ ડામર safed daamar, સર્જક sarjaka • Hindi: कहरुबा kahruba, सफेद डामर safed daamar • Kannada: ಬಿಳಿ ಧೂಪ bili dhupa, ಧೂಪದ ಮರ dhupada mara • Konkani: धूप dhoop • Malayalam: കുന്തിരിക്കപ്പൈൻ kunthirikkappayin, പയിനി payini, വെള്ളപ്പൈൻ vellappayin • Marathi: चंद्रुस chandrusa, धूप dhoop • Odia: ମନ୍ଦଧୂପ mandadhupa, ସନ୍ଦରସ sandarasa • Persian: کـﮩربا kahruba • Punjabi: ਸੁੰਦਰਸ sundaras • Sanskrit: सर्जकः sarjakah • Tamil: துருளக்கம் turulakkam, வெள்ளைக்குங்கிலியம் vellai-k-kunki-liyam • Telugu: తెల్లగుగ్గిలము tellaguggilamu • Tulu: ತಂದೊಳಿಗೆ tandolige • Urdu: گگل guggul

botanical namesVateria indica L. … heterotypic synonymsVateria malabarica Blume … POWO, retrieved 13 January 2025

Bibliography / etymology
Links listed as references in the notes below, may not remain valid permanently. Portals / websites have a tendency to re-organize / revise their content, leading to change in URLs of pages in their site. Some sites may even close down at their own will. The bits about the languages of India mentioned below are merely some bare facts gathered from the internet; just enough to satisfy curiosity about “where” could the listed names be best prevalent in India. All English transliterated names to be taken sensu amplo.

~~~~~ ENGLISH ~~~~~
written and spoken widely, in most parts of India
Indian copal tree
Indian gum anime
Malabar tallow tree, white dammar
piney varnish tree
~~~~~ GUJARATI ~~~~~
written in: Gujarati (ગુજરાતી) … spoken in: GujaratDadra & Nagar HaveliDaman & Diu
ચંદ્રસ chandras, રાળ નું વૃક્ષ raal nu vrksha, સફેદ ડામર safed daamar, સર્જક sarjaka
~~~~~ HINDI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (हिन्दी) … spoken in: DelhiUttar PradeshBiharChhattisgarhHaryanaJharkhandMadhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
कहरुबा kahruba, सफेद डामर safed daamar
~~~~~ KANNADA ~~~~~
written in: Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) … spoken in: Karnataka
ಬಿಳಿ ಧೂಪ bili dhupa, ಧೂಪದ ಮರ dhupada mara
~~~~~ KONKANI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (कोंकणी) / Kannada (ಕೊಂಕಣಿ) / Malayalam (കൊങ്കണി) / Perso-Arabic (کونکنی) / Romi (Konknni) … spoken in: Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat
धूप dhoop
~~~~~ MALAYALAM ~~~~~
written in: Malayalam (മലയാളം) … spoken in: Kerala, Lakshadweep
കുന്തിരിക്കപ്പൈൻ kunthirikkappayin
പയിനി payini, വെള്ളപ്പൈൻ vellappayin
~~~~~ MARATHI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (मराठी) … spoken in: Maharashtra, Karnataka
चंद्रुस chandrusa
धूप dhoop
~~~~~ ODIA ~~~~~
written in: Odia (ଓଡ଼ିଆ) … spoken in: Odisha, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
ମନ୍ଦଧୂପ mandadhupa
  • WISDOM LIBRARY – the greatest source of ancient and modern knowledge
ସନ୍ଦରସ sandarasa
~~~~~ PERSIAN ~~~~~
written in: Farsi (فارسی) … almost a defunct language; spoken in: West Bengal, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Bihar
کـﮩربا kahruba
~~~~~ PUNJABI ~~~~~
written in: Gurmukhi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) … spoken in: Punjab
ਸੁੰਦਰਸ sundaras
~~~~~ SANSKRIT ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (संस्कृतम्) … used all over India by priests and scholars
सर्जकः sarjakah
~~~~~ TAMIL ~~~~~
written in: Tamil (தமிழ்) … spoken in: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
துருளக்கம் turulakkam, வெள்ளைக்குங்கிலியம் vellai-k-kunki-liyam
~~~~~ TELUGU ~~~~~
written in: Telugu ( తెలుగు) … spoken in: Andhra PradeshTelangana, Puducherry
తెల్లగుగ్గిలము tellaguggilamu
~~~~~ TULU ~~~~~
written in: Tigalari (Tulu) was used for writing Vedic texts in Sanskrit, Kannada (ತುಳು), Malayalam (തുളു) … spoken in: Karnataka, north Kerala
ತಂದೊಳಿಗೆ tandolige
~~~~~ URDU ~~~~~
written in: Urdu (اردو) … spoken in: Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka
گگل guggul
~~~~~ DISTRIBUTION in INDIA ~~~~~
Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu; endemic
~~~~~ Created on: 15:32 13-01-2025 ¦ Last updated: 15:54 14-01-2025 ~~~~~

Kannada names added …

commonly known as: Indian copal tree, Indian gum anime, Malabar tallow tree, piney varnish tree, white dammar • Gujarati: ચંદ્રસ chandras, રાળ નું વૃક્ષ raal nu vrksha, સફેદ ડામર safed daamar, સર્જક sarjaka • Hindi: कहरुबा kahruba, सफेद डामर safed daamar • Kannada: ಬಿಳಿ ಧೂಪ bili dhupa, ಬಿಳಿ ಗುಗ್ಗಲ bili guggala, ಬೆಳುವ beluva, ಧೂಪದ ಮರ dhupada mara, ಹಾಗಡ haagada, ಉಗುಳುಧೂಪ uguludhupa • Konkani: धूप dhoop • Malayalam: കുന്തിരിക്കപ്പൈൻ kunthirikkappayin, പയിനി payini, വെള്ളപ്പൈൻ vellappayin • Marathi: चंद्रुस chandrusa, धूप dhoop • Odia: ମନ୍ଦଧୂପ mandadhupa, ସନ୍ଦରସ sandarasa • Persian: کـﮩربا kahruba • Punjabi: ਸੁੰਦਰਸ sundaras • Sanskrit: सर्जकः sarjakah • Tamil: துருளக்கம் turulakkam, வெள்ளைக்குங்கிலியம் vellai-k-kunki-liyam • Telugu: తెల్లగుగ్గిలము tellaguggilamu • Tulu: ತಂದೊಳಿಗೆ tandolige • Urdu: گگل guggul

both Malayalam and English names are correct.



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/va%20402.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/va%20403.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/va%20404.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/va%20405.jpgbr-lazy"

Lofty tree foe identification 060712MK01:
Please help me to identify this tree found in a tea estate in Vaalparai region of Western Ghats. The tree is of 20m tall and leaves c.20cm long. Fruits 6-8cm long.

Location: near riverine stream
Place: Vaalparai, TN
Alt.: 950 m asl
Date: 13 July 2012

Yes its Vateria indica 


Many thanks for the identification. I confirmed this as Vateria indica L. of Dipterocarpaceae.
The attached fruit picture was taken from a different locality in same place.

.


Dhoopa tree:
I got the sapling saying it was “dhoopa” tree. The person was leaving in a rush and could not ask for the botanical name. Can anyone please confirm the botanical name? Some call Vateria indica as dhoop (dhup) and some call Ailanthus triphysa similarly.


Canarium strictum is locally called Dhoop. The plant featured here is Vateria indica my photographs of which are available at this link
Also have Dhoop on my property at Shahapur. Could send photographs of it if required for comparison later.

Thanks for the confirmation. I assumed it was Vateria indica as well, but was confused when I saw that some folks called Ailanthus triphysa and Canarium strictum as dhoop. I think it depends on region to region. Added to it Vateria indica was listed on the IUCN red list as well.
Even wikipedia has listed Vateria indica as “Dhoopada mara” (meaning dhoop tree) in Kannada. Also, Vateria indica is called as white dammar while Canarium strictum is called as black dammar tree.
From what I read online, Vateria indica grows straight and tall. Please confirm the growth habit as well. Also, is it necessary for high humidity to grow this tree? In Bangalore, the humidity plummets in Winter and Summer (almost to the lower teens causing lot of problems to my Vandas). Hope that it would not be a problem to this tree.


Yes, Canarium strictum, Shorea roxburgii are called as ‘Dhoopa’ tree in Tamil. The similarity being both produce resin and are used in rituals.



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_8311.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_8302-3.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_8310.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_8307-5.jpg

Seen this Evergreen tree at Anshi WLS, Karnataka.
Bot. name: Vateria indica
Family: Dipterocarpaceae
Identified by …


The pics are really superb.. thanks for showing this new plant to me..



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Vateria%20Indica-Plate1-PKA-1.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kathalekan-March2013%20804.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kathalekan-March2013%20809.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kathalekan-March2013%20797.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kathalekan-March2013%20795.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kathalekan-March2013%20794.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kathalekan-March2013%20812.jpg
Hypericaceae, Clusiaceae and Dipterocarpaceae Fortnight: Dipterocarpaceae :: Vateria indica :: at Karnataka: -PKA-Nov-31 : 5 posts by 5 authors. Attachments (6)
One more set of pics of Vateria indica from Karnataka.


Again a complete set ..thanks …


Again very well done

I really appreciate the full feature story- line type of series
ps now all we need are the fruits 🙂


Lovely pictures … One of my favorite rainforest trees. Thank you so much.



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/gRhbeYdU5gR8tX66gGic4EsCmyU6s5PtUy0qJD_aQ7Sxc8SHRlbPx7X2Si4wxdF3kKTVTW_de47H8nTZrgEHoFiGrM_sqTVULEDTGxL6PN92LA-w5000-h5000.jpg
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/1BTHdJ5p88--Apa70HsrxOOdyGd7N3uDvXOYzbI2l5l_Z5O1XFGMqk3X6fEbJNXwqmYP9LB4DVlPguUr7LmsGRic1BcWK_AKF7j0fwF2wnqtog-w5000-h5000.jpg
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/S9tfMY5-nnQOIXKqhdBtdZMw4-1TgYVj6rRu1FOcKImrzV_E7G7VRVeThJ5lii3DbhdEuZAPyp51dP7_ZJjo6lsSloyY4Sip7Xm19M3Mj-Fqrg-w5000-h5000.jpg
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/vFI3cEGx2sIE0sxnNUWUmih60REG1JvnwWSBB9qs6ZmUng4tKKJ0yeByBEWImH38aJWnquI3HibtUMm5l8GDLsF12yO0HIROLF2TDrJ0z-1skw-w5000-h5000.jpg
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/va0uEmtXjiL80QK49dBsstse1Ifuth4nIHGgEAICqaqNWNYzhkv-c1pOQ_lbqKK9OEIh7FXc4ylzMvVxZba6e0KH4ji8alSZ8RwGbLtR6_QwIQ-w5000-h5000.jpg

Anshi Ghat :: Vateria indica :: DVFEB32/65 : 4 posts by 3 authors. 6 images.
Anshi Ghat Karnataka

Date: 25 MAY 2013 Altitude: 340 – 380 m asl
Vateria indica L. (family: Dipterocarpaceae)
This tree was somewhere along KSH46 near Kumbharwada between Anshi and Joida.
And most likely planted.

Yes it seems to be Vateria indica


Is it the “Dhoopa” tree?


…- by nature, resin from its bark is used as a natural incense, and thus its common names in various regional languages may relate to “dhoopa”. I think Canarium strictum is the dhoop tree.



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/1-7-0-3.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/4-8-2-1-6.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2-7-2-6.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/6-2-7-4.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/3-1-8-7.jpg
identification/validation (plant/jun15/8) : 4 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (5)
Request to identify/validate the following photos
Name: Vateria indica
Family: Dipterocarpaceae

For me the ID is correct.I have seen this tree near Agumbe, Jogfalls, Shimoga area etc. and photographed.    Where did you click the photograph?


Thanks for validating. This was captured at/near Jog falls area.


It is indeed Vateria indica.



Images by tspkumar

/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/1-Aldur-Balehonnur_20140724_145716%20-2-.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/4-TSP-25-03-2016-vatteria%20indica-9999_33%20-10-.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/5-Kelagur-20160325_101152%20-1-.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/6-TSP-01-05-2016-kelagoor-ckm-0078%20-3-.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2-TSP-25-03-2016-vatteria%20indica-9999_33%20-9-.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/7-TSP-01-05-2016-kelagoor-ckm-0078%20-4-.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/3-TSP-25-03-2016-vatteria%20indica-9999_33%20-12-.JPG

TSP-MAY2016-02-332:Images of Vateria indica (Dipterocarpaceae) : 4 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (7)

It is my pleasure to share few images of Vateria indica  (Dipterocarpaceae)

Ref: http://florakarnataka.ces.iisc.ernet.in/hjcb2/herbsheet.php?id=1576&cat=1 

Habit: A tall tree 

Habitat: Wild, semi-evergreen forest 

Sighting: Chikmagalur, Karnataka, about 1200 msl 

Date: 24-07-2015, 25-03-2016 and 01-05-2016


superb. the white petals captured perfectly



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/dipterocarpus%20a.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/dipterocarpus%202a.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/dipterocarpus%203a.jpg
near alibaugdipterocarpus species – efloraofindia | Google Groups

.



Requesting a tree id_190422-1: 3 high res. images.
A large tree with white flowers, with no perceivable smell. Leaves large (Not to confuse with the Dracaena sp. Behind)
Dharmasthala, Karnataka.


Chonemorpha ??


Pl. post a habit image.


This is the habit picture.


I think it is Vateria indica


.



Dipterocarpaceae: Vateria indica L.: 1 high res. image.
location/date: Thrissur Distr., Kerala, November 2002


 


.

References:
Updated on February 8, 2025