Karas / Gaharu (Agarwood)

Aquilaria mallacensis

Family: Thymellaceae

The major source of agarwood, a resinous heartwood, used for perfume and incense. The resin is produced by the tree in response to infection by a parasitic. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, also Thailand. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Due to rising demand for agarwood, as well as shortcomings in monitoring harvests and increasing illegal trade, A. malaccensis is on the brink of extinction in the wild and is now considered critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.