Properties and Uses

Mersawa

The Standard Malaysian Name for the timber of Anisoptera spp. (Dipterocarpaceae). The timber is a light hardwood with a density of 515–735 kg m^-3 air dry. The sapwood is not sharply defined from the heartwood, which is light to dark yellow and darkens on exposure. Texture is moderately coarse but even, with shallow to deeply interlocked and sometimes slightly spiral grain. The timber is only fairly strong (Strength group C). It is difficult to resaw and cross-cut and have a dulling effect on the cutters, due to the presence of silica. The timber is difficult to plane but the surface produced is smooth. The nailing property is rated as good. The timber dries very slowly but with only slight degrades. Minor cupping, bowing and surface-checking are noted during drying. 13 mm boards take 6 months to air dry, while 25 mm and 38 mm boards take 7.5 and 9 months respectively. Shrinkage is high, radial shrinkage averaging 1.4% and tangential shrinkage averaging 3.5%. For kiln-drying, Schedule E is recommended. The timber dries slowly and maintains high moisture content in the core. 25 mm boards take approximately 16–17 days to kiln-dry from 50 to 10% moisture content. The timber is moderately durable under exposed conditions and is difficult to treat with preservatives.

USES: The timber is extremely popular as a veneer and plywood species. Other uses include light construction, furniture manufacture, pallets, boxes and crates.

The common vernacular names applied include kijal (Tr.), loh (Ph.), medang sawa (P.M.), mersawa (P.M. and Sar.) with various epithets, pengiran (Sab.) with various epithets, rengkong (Ph.), sanai (P.M.), sepah petri (NS.) and terbak (Kd., Ps. and Kl.). Major species include A. costata, A. curtisii, , A. grossivenia, A. laevis, A. marginata, A. megistocarpa and A. scaphula.