Hopea parviflora is a tall dipterocarp of the Western Ghats evergreen forests whose wood is among the hardest and most durable in India. Known in Kerala and Tamil Nadu as thambagam or irumbagam, it was the timber for bridges, railway sleepers and boats. It is found only in the Western Ghats and is now assessed as endangered.
- Botanical name
- Hopea parviflora Bedd.
- Family
- Dipterocarpaceae
- Tamil
- Irumborai
- Hindi
- Kiral bogi
- Parts used
- Timber
- Habit
- Western Ghats dipterocarp; teak is Tectona
- Last updated
- 2026-10-25
How to recognise Kambagom
It is a large evergreen tree with a straight trunk, dark bark and glossy, pointed leaves arranged alternately.
The flowers are tiny, cream and fragrant, in branched sprays — parviflora means “small-flowered”.
The fruit is a small nut with two longer wings and three short ones, smaller than the two-winged fruit of gurjan, Dipterocarpus indicus.
The heartwood is dark brown, very heavy and resistant to termites and fungi. Its Tamil and Malayalam names refer to iron.
Traditional use of Kambagom
Timber
Hopea timber was used for heavy construction that had to last in wet conditions: bridges, piles, boats and railway sleepers.
Western Ghats forestry
Resin
Like its relatives, the tree yields a resin when wounded, used locally as a varnish and incense.
Kerala and Karnataka forest practice
Modern notes on Kambagom
It is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List because of past logging and loss of evergreen forest.
Foresters have planted it experimentally for its timber, but it grows slowly and needs a forest environment to regenerate well.
Kambagom safety
There is no food or medicinal use. Its resin should not be swallowed.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows along streams and in low-elevation evergreen forest of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Dipterocarps produce seed irregularly in mast years, and the seed does not stay viable for long, so seedlings depend on intact forest nearby.
Related plants
Also in Dipterocarpaceae
Questions about Kambagom
Is Kambagom teak?
No. Teak is Tectona grandis, a deciduous tree in a different family.
Is Kambagom white dammar?
No. White dammar is Vateria indica, another dipterocarp of the same forests.
Why is Kambagom endangered?
Its timber was heavily logged and its evergreen forest habitat has shrunk.
Sources
- Hopea parviflora Bedd. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q1595821 (Hopea parviflora)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.