Re - Identification of scientific name for the tree species “Chua khet” or “Nao” in Quang Binh province

Abstract

The “Chua Khet” tree species, also locally called “Nao” in Vietnamese, naturally distributes in Quang Binh province. This indigenous species is a timber of high commercial value, used for housing construction and fine indoor furniture - its wood has a beautiful light red color. In Decision 2198/CNR of the Ministry of Forestry, dated 26 November 1977, on temporary classification of timber species being used in Vietnam, this indigenous species (“Chua Khet” or “Nao”) is classified as Chukrasia sp., belonging to Group III. Hence, the name Chukrasia sp. have been used for this tree species by forestry technical agencies, forestry consulting companies and state - owned forest enterprises in Quang Binh province as well as in the list of flora in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. However, detailed study of the morphological characteristics, classification and structure of the “Chua khet” (or “Nao”) in Quang Binh province suggests that it has many different characteristics as compared to those of the species classified as Chukrasia sp. in the above - mentioned Decision 2198/CNR, and actually belongs to the Dysoxylum genus. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed some characteristics of this plant in Quang Binh, compared with the “Chua khet” (Chukrasia sp.) of the Chukrasia genus and then determined the scientific name of the Chua Khet (Nao) species found in Quang Binh to be Dysoxylum cyrtobotryum Miq., Fl. Ind. Bat. Suppl. 1 (1861).