Sal Tree

An evergreen tree in the Dipterocarpaceae. Famous in Buddhism as the sacred tree under which Buddha entered parinirvana. In Japanese temples, however, trees labeled 'sala' are usually Stewartia pseudocamellia, not the true sal tree. Native to India and Southeast Asia.

Identification Points

• ✓Large evergreen tree, 30–50 m tall
• ✓Large glossy elliptic leaves
• ✓Fruit with two wing-like calyx lobes (typical of Dipterocarpaceae)

Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification

Phylogenetic Positionフタバガキ科 →