The Shorea roxburghii is a deciduous or semideciduous tree, up to about 40 m tall, with erect trunk, cylindrical, up to 1 m of diameter. The species is native to Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam where it lives in the dry evergreen or deciduous forests. It is classified as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to over-exploitation for its valuable timber.  

Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) has ever introduced Shorea roxburghii from Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand over 20 years ago and cultivated them in the Dipterocarpaceae Collection. The trees have grown to about 20 meters tall. In 2023, an individual of Shorea roxburghii introduced from Laos came to bloom in April and fruited in May, which is the first time of its kind.  

XTBG researchers will pay close to the flowering and fruiting conditions, and collect mature seeds, getting ready for breeding and ex situ conservation of this economically important plant group. 

In many countries, the tree is harvested from the wild as a commercial source of the timber 'White Meranti', and also for local medicinal purposes, its edible flowers and its bark. Its timber can be used for bridge building, construction, furniture and other tools.