Category :    Light Hardwoods

Species

General Characteristics

Sapwood ill-defined, moderately well-defined or well-defined; colour of heartwood very variable, light-straw, yellow-brown, pink-brown, red-brown, olive-brown or olive-green with the majority of woods having an olive tinge; some species with a distinctive aromatic odour; planed surface dull; most species without figure but a few with attractive zig-zag markings on tangential surface produced by banded parenchyma; texture generally moderately fine and even but in some cases moderately coarse; grain interlocked or wavy; soft or moderately hard or hard to cut across grain; air dry density ranging from 400 to 800 kg/m³ (25 to 50 lb/ft³) but the majority in the range of 560 to 640 (35 to 40 lb/ ft3); some species have a great reputation for durability but on the whole this does not apply and it is not a durable wood for use in contact with the ground or exposed positions.

Structure

Growth rings Concentric markings produced by terminal bands or wood parenchyma may be present in some species.
Vessels Some species with scalariform perforation plates; generally medium-sized; moderately few or moderately numerous; evenly distributed without any apparent arrangement; tyloses usually present; deposits absent
Wood parenchyma exclusively paratracheal in most species, as incomplete borders or ill-developed aliform to confluent; both paratracheal and apotracheal in some species, the paratracheal type as described above and the apotracheal type as irregularly spaced bands.
Rays fine or medium-sized, the former not generally visible to the naked eye but the latter visible; not conspicuous on a radial surface.
Ripple marks absent.
Intercellular canals absent.

Other Features

Burning splinter test: Splinter burns to ash.
Froth test: Negative.

Uses

The timber is suitable for decorative work such as interior finishing, panelling, furniture, cabinet making, plywood manufacture and the heavier species are suitable for medium construction under cover.