Description: Gmelina palawensis is sometimes split into two subspecies (G. palawensis var. palawensis, in Palau, and G. palawensis var. celebic, in Sulawesi, see de Kok 2012); here we refer mainly to the species binomial name G. palawensis. This small tree can reach heights of about 9 m (30 ft) tall with trunk diameters ranging from about 5-35 cm (2-14 in). It produces simple, opposite, elliptic leaves with upper glossy surfaces that are about 10-28 cm (4-12 in) long and 8-15 cm (3.5-6 in) wide; the leaves also have entire margins and five pairs of secondary veins. Petioles connecting leaves to stems are about 5-8 cm (2-3.5 in) long. The small flowers with a yellow center have four white upper lobes and a single lower lavender one; these are produced as a terminal branched cluster which blooms from the outside towards the center. The fruits are ovoid, shiny, succulent and about 2.5 cm (1 in) long and contain a single hard seed. Flowering appears to take place year round (e.g., see Kitalong et al. 2008:83).

Distribution: Gmelina is a genus of plants in the mint family Lamiaceae comprised of approximately 31 species ranging in distribution from Australia, New Guinea, Southeast Asis, India and a few in Africa. G. palawensis is commonly found in the forests with volcanic soils on Babeldaob Island in Palau (e.g., see Cole et al. 1987:6, Kitalong 2008:15). where it is endemic at the subspecies level (i.e., G. palawensis subsp. palawensis, seede Kok 2012); the species is also reportedly found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines (see Kitalong et al. 2008:83).

Uses by Island or Islands Group:

Uses in Palau: Tuyama (1941) indicated that the wood of Gmelina palawensis as used for building materials, and specifically referred to the wood as “white and compact, but rather brittle.” However, according to Kitalong et al. (2008:83):“The light wood [of G. palawensis is] used as timber for building. It is termite resistant and very good wood for posts and walls (both inside and out). It was used traditionally to make paddles for paddling canoes. Many forest birds including Micronesian Imperial-pigeons, Palau Fruit-doves, and fruit bats eat the fruits” (also see Kitalong et al. 2008:71-72 for more traditional canoe and building construction uses of the wood of G. palawensis in Palau).

Note: the “Badhara bush” shrub or small tree (Gmelina elliptica Sm.), which grows up tobe about 10 m (~30 ft) tall, is reportedly native (?) to Palau and elsewhere (its local Palauan names: “a kulb ne par reth, kalngebard ra belau”); G. elliptica is known to form dense impenetrable thickets and it is regarded as an environmental weed in parts of its “native range,” even in Palau. For example, according Space et al. 2009:210):

“A number of thorny thickets of Gmelina elliptica (kalngebard ra belau) were seen on the northern end of Babeldaob [island in Palau] and occasional examples are present in most of the Babeldaob states. It is also present on Malakal. It is particularly prevalent in Ngaraard and Ngerchelong State between Chelab and Ollei village. While native to Palau, this species should not be introduced to islands where it is not already present.”

Space et al. 2009:104 also referred to the related alien species Gmelina asiatica as also present in Palau; this Gmelina species is also known variously in English as “badhara bush, Asiatic beechberry, oval-leafed gmelina,” and in Palauan as “kalngebang?” Space and his colleages noted that G. asiatica has been recorded from Koror Island in Palau where it is an “invasive species of environmental concern.” G. asiatica is a thorny shrub that can have significant impacts on natural areas by limiting biodiversity and inducing longterm environmental effects. Its seeds are despered primarily by birds, and may have been deliberately introduced in several tropical areas as a garden ornamental.