dipterocarp timbers of the malay...

CONTENTS PART I. THE GENUS SHOREA

The genus Shorea Group I. - Balau

Botanical identity Vernacular names Distribution Habit

THE TIMBERS General properties

Weight gild hardness Grain Sapwood Heartwood Durability

Features visible to the naked eye or with a hand lens Growth rings Vessels Wood parenchyma Rays Ripple marks Intercellular callais

Microscopic features Differentiation between species Mechanical properties Working qualities Seasoning Preservation Defects Importance and uses Confusion with other species Other related species

Groups 2 and 3. - White and Yellow meranti Key to the groups

Group 2. - Meranfl pa'aog .. . Botanical identity Vernacular names Distribution Habit


Weight atld hardness Grain Sapwood Heartwood Durability

Features visible to the naked eye or with a hand lens Growth "Jigs Vessels Wood paretlchyma Ra'jls Ripple marks Intercellular callais

Microscopic features Differentiation between species Mechanical properities Working qualities Seasoning Preservation Defects

III

3 4 4 5 5

5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 9

11 II 12 12 12 13 14

. 14 15

16 16 16 16 17

17 17 17 17 17 18 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 20 21 22 23 23 23

.v

Importance and uses Confusion with other s~cies Other related species

Group 3.-Meranti damar hitam Botanical identity Vernacular names Distribution Habit


Ifl eight alld hflrdness (dain Soptvood Heartwood DI/rabilit)'

Features visible to the naked eye or with a hand lens Grow/h rillgs Vessels IVood part"chymo ROJs Ripple marks '"lercell,41ar (orrals

Microscopic features Mechanical properties Working Qualities Seasoning Preservation Defects Importance and uses Confusion with other species Other related species

Group 4.-Red meranti and damar laut merah Key to the sub-groups

RED ~rERANT I - SUB-GROUP 1 Botanical identity Vernacular names Distribution Habit


/.Vei!1hl and Irordll/:ss GrOin Sapwood Heorlwood V"robitil)'

Featu res visible to the naked eye or with a hand lens Gruwlll rillgs Vts.uls IV ood porellch)'nlo ROl'S Ripple moris Inlerctflil lor Callais

Microscopic features ~Iechanica l properties Working qualilles Seasoning Preservalion Defects Importance and uses Confusion wilh other sflCcic~ Olher re lated sflCcies

24 26 26

27 27 27 27 28

28 28 28 28 28 28 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 31 31 J2 33 33 34 34 34

34 3;

36 36 37 37

38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 40 40 40

'" 43 43 45 47 .. 4. 53 53

• == -"--.~"""" --

RED MERANTl - SUB-GROUP 2 Botanical identity Vernacular names Dist ribution Habit

THE TamERS General properties

IV fipht and nardnl,for Gnml Sapwood H earl""ood Durabiiit),

Features visible to the naked eye or with a hand lens Growth rirlg~ Vessels rYood /larmrh)'mo Rays Ripple marlrs irlterctl/ul(lr ronals

Microsc::opic features Differentiation between species Mechanical properties Importance and uses ConfusiOIl with other species

DAM.AR LAUT MERAH -SUB-GROUP 3 Botanical idelltity Vernacular names Distribution Habit

THE TIMBER General properties

IV eiphl and hardl/'SS G,.mn SaPwood H ea,.twood D I4 ,.abilitJ'

Features visible to the naked eye or with a hand lens Growth ,.itlOs Vessels ~¥ood /loretlchyma Rays Ripple marks Intr"cellul(l" callais

Microscopic features Differentiation between species Mechanical properties Working qualities Seasoning Preservation Defects Importance and uses Confusion with other species Other rela ted species

PAI!T II . THE GENUS DfPTEI!OCAI!PUS

The genus Dipterocarpus Botanical identity Vernacular names Distribution Habit

53 53 53 53

54 54 54 54 54 54 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55

57 57 57 57

57 57 57 57 57 57 58 58 58 58 58 58 58 58

"" "" 61 61 61 61 61 61 61

62 64 64 64 65

v

vi


Weight and hardness Graj,~ Sapwood Heart~vood Durability

Features "isible to the naked eye or with a hand lens Growth rings ... ... . .. Vessels Wood parench)'lJIa Rays Rip pie marks ltltercel/u/ar canals


PAQT III. THE GENUS DQYOBALANOPS

The genus Dryobalanops Botanical identity Vernacular names Distribution Habit


Weight and hardll ess Grain Sap~vood Heartwood Durability

Features visible to the naked eye or with a hand lens Growth ritlgs Vessels Wood paretlcll)'ma Rays Ripple marks Intercellular canals


PAQT IV. THE GENUS HOPEA including BALANOCAQPUS HEIMII King

65 65 65 65 65 66 66 66 66 66 67 67 67 70 70 71 71 72 73 73 74 75 75

76 76 76 76 76

77 77 77 77 77 77 78 78 78 78 78 78 78 78 80 80 80 81 81 81 82 82 82

The genus Hopea including Balanocarpus Heimii King 83 Composition of the timber groups of Hopea and Balanocarpl1s Heimii 84 Key to the timber groups of Hopea and BaianocarpllS Heimii 85

A

PERPUSTAKAAN NEGARAMAUYSIA

Group l.-Chengal Botanical identity Vernacular names Distribution Habit

THE TiMBER General properties

IV eight and hardness Grain Sapwood Heartwood Durability

Features visible to the naked eye or with a hand lens Growth rings Vessels ltV ood parenchyma Rays Ripple marks Intercellular callais

Microscopic features Mechanical properties Working qualities Seasoning Preservation Defects Importance and uses Confusion with other species Other related species

Group 2.-Malut Botanical identity Vernacular names Distribution Habit

THE TIMBER General properties

rVeight a1ld hardness Grai1l Sapwood Heart1vood Durability

Features visible to the naked eye or with a hand lens Growth rings Vessels Wood parenchyma RaJ'S Rip pIe marks ltttercellniar callaIs

Microscopic features Mechanical properties "\forking qualities and Seasoning Preservation Defects Importance and uses Confusion with other species Other related species

Group 3.-Giam Botanical identity Vernacular names Distribution Habit

vii

86 86 86 86 86

86 86 !l6 86 87 87 87 87 87 88 88 88 88 88 88 89 89 91 91 92 92 93

93 94 94 94 94

94 94 94 94 94 94 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 96 96 96 97 97

97 98 98 98 98

/

viii


Weight and hardness Grain Sapwood Heartwood Durability

Features visible to the naked eye or with a hand Icns Growth rings Vessels l1/ ood parellch:}'IIW Rays Ripple marks Intercellular canals

!lIicroscopic features Differentiation between species Mechanical properties Working qualities Seasoning Preservation Defects Importance and uses Confusion with other species Other related species

Group 4.-Merawan Botanical identity Vernacular names Distribution Habit


Weight alld hardness Graitl Sapwood Heartwood Durability

Features visible to the naked eye or with a hand lens Growth rings Vessels /lVood parenchyma Rays Ripple marks ltltercellular ca1lals

!II icroscopic features Differentiation between species Mechanical properties Working qualities Seasoning Preservation Defects Importance and uses Confusion with other species Other related species

PART V. THE GENUS ANISOPTERA

99 99 99 99 99 99

100 100 101 101 102 102 102 102 102 102 104 105 105 lOS 106 107 107

107 108 108 109 109

109 109 109 109 109 109 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 113 113 113 114 116 116 117 117 118

The genus Anisoptera 119 Botanical identity 120 Vernacular names 120 Distribution 120 Habit 120

£

PERPUSTAKMN NEGARAM.f.l.AYSIA

THE Tl~fBERS ~neral properties

U'l.'iph/ and I,ardl'ts! GruUl Sapwood fl tarltt'ood Durobili/}'

Features visible to the nak('l\ eye Of wilh a hand lens GrO"&)lh riltgs Vessds Iflood pur('Jlrllymu Rays Ripple marks /II/trrel/'llur run(lls

Mierocospie features Differentiation between species Key to the sub-groups Mechanical properties \\Iorking qualities Seasoning Preservation Defects Importance and uses Confusion with other species Other related sp(!cie~

PART VI. THE GENUS PARAStlOREA

The gen'us Pa rashorea Botanical identity Vernacular names Distribution Hahit

THE THfBERS General properties

IV eipll/ mId hardlll'Ss Grom Sup~I'ood Hl.'arf1.uood Durability

Features visible to the naked eye or with a hand lens Grow/It rillgs Vl.'s.reis Wood parelte/')' IIUI Rays Ripple marks In/I'reelllliar rUllols

Microscopic fea tures Differentiation between species Mechanical properties \\Iorking qualities SeaS()ning Preservation Defects Importance and tlSC S

Confusion with other species Other related t imbers

PART VII. THE GENUS PENTACME

120 120 120 121 121 12: 121 121 121 121 122 122 122 122 122 122 124 125 12.; I'" 126 126 127 127

128 128 128 129 I'" 129 129 129 129 129 129 1311 no 1311 1311 1311 131 131 I~I 131 132 132 133 133 133 133 134 134

The genus Pentacme 135 Botanical identity 135 Vernacular name 135 Dist ribution 135 Habit 135

ix

THE T1UHER General propt'rtles

W tlghr o.Ind irard"tss Grain SaptfJood Htl,lrt'.vood Durability ... ... . ..

Feature! visible to the: naked eve or with 11 hand lens GrO'U'lh rings . Vtsuls /fl ood porctuh)'ma R ays Ripple morh Jnttruifllior canals

Microscopic: features Mechanical pro~rtic:s Working quaJihc:s Seasoning Preservation and Defects Importance and uses Confusion with other species Other related species

PART VIII. THE GENUS VATICA including Cotylelobium spp. and Upuna borneensis Sym.

The genus Vatica including Cotylelobium spp. and Up una

135 135 136 136 130 1.16 136 136 136 136 136 136 136 I ... 137 137 137 139 139 139 139

borneensis Sym. 140 Botanical ideillit)' 141 Vernacular Ilames 141 Distribution 142 Habit 143

TH E TU.f8ERS General properlie.~ 1<13

Wrigf" and Ilord •• tss 143 Gr(lin 143 So/> .. ~ot>d 143 Heartwood 143 Dllrability 1<13

Features visible to the naked eye or with a hand len! 144 Growth rings 144 V tssels 144 /Vood por('IIchY"'{I 146 R{I)'s 146 Ripplt marks 146 IrllerCf'lIl4lor CO/Ill Is 146

:Microscopic fea-hLres 146 Differentiation between spe<::ies 146 ~Itthanical properties 149 Working qualities 150 Seasoning ISO Preservation 151 Defects • 151 Importance and uses 151 Confusion with other species 151 Other related species 152

PART IX. ANATOMICAL FEATURES as an aid to the grouping 01 Dipteroc:lrp timbers

AN ATOMICAL FEATURES as ;In aid to the grouping of Dipterocnrp timbers ... ... ... ... 133

APPENDIX I : Material - Forest Research Institute Kepong, Wood Collection numbers 160

BIBLIOGRAPHY 165 INDEX 169

• == ----

THE GENUS SHOREA

T HE genus Shorea is represented in the Malay P eninsula by 59 known species {SO), all of which are trees attaining commercial timber size, but because of their scarcity, or the inaccessibility of the localities where

they .occur, the timber of certain species is not of co~ercial importance. The genus as a whole provides by far the highest proportion of the timber exploited in the Peninsula, different species fulfilling, more or less satisfactorily, the widely varying requirements of the timber-consuming industries of the country.

For commercial purposes the timbers of the different species may be regarded as belonging to two main classes: (1) hard to very hard, heavy to very heavy, moderately durable to very durable timbers of fine to only moderately coarse texture, and (2) soft to moderately hard, light to moderately heavy, non-durable timbers of moderately to _ rather coarse texture. The former class includes the balan group, and sub-group 3 of red meranti, which was previously treated, with two other species now transferred to balan, as a separate group and called. damar lant merah (27). The latter class includes two distinct groups of "white meranti" and two sub-groups of red meranti. This grouping is essentially similar to that adopted in a previous study of Shorea (27), but it is considered preferable to raise the status of the two sub-groups of "white meranti" to that of separate groups, and to split up the arbitrary damar Iant merah group, transferring two species to balan, and making the third into a separate sub-group of red meranti. The arrangement brings the grouping into line with botanical classification, except that more than 3 botanical sub-groups of red meranti may be recognized.

The classification adopted in this study is also justified from the utilization standpoint, and is to be preferred to maintaining the arbitrary damar lant merah group. In practice, although the timbers of Shorea guiso, S. Kunstleri, and S. ochrophloia, are similar in strength properties, only that of S. Kunstleri is sold as damar lant merah, the others finding their way into consignments of meranti. The inclusion of S. guiso and S. ochrophloia in balan is not a serious objection, as it is obvious that the twelve species previously described in this group do not all yield timber identical in quality. Instead, balan should be regarded as a group name, similar to kerning, and closer specification on the part of consumers will ensure that different consignments are of equivalent commercial quality. For example, the introduction of a minimum-weight clause would ensure that only the heavier, and incidentally the stronger and more durable, forms of balau were included in any particular consignment, and such a restricting clause would not be difficult to apply in practice.

Several name changes have become necessary, and other species have been described, since Malayan Forest Record No. 12 was published, and for ease of reference th~ earlier names are given in brackets in the group summary on page 2.

8

• Sub-Group 2. S. Hemsleyana King S. macra ntlla Brandis

Sub-Group 3. S. Ku'ftstleri King (Previously

treated under damar laut merah)

Unlike most other genera of the Dipterocarpaceae, Shorea is not a natural genus; some botanists might create separate genera for certain of the groups enumerated on pages 2 to 3. In the drcumstances a generic description of the anatomical characters of the timbers is not called for, and the groups will be treated as if they were separate genera. A key to the timber groups is appended.

Key to the Groups (1) Wood hard or very hard and heavy to very heavy (over 50 lb. ~wm .................. ~

(1) Wood soft to moderately hard and light to moderately heavy (under 50 lb. per cu. ft) ............ .. ... . (4)

(2) Wood parenchyma and rays yellow. vessels reticulate in arrange-ment, silica present ...... (5. sericeiflora) ME~ANTI PA'ANG GnOUp

(2) Wood parenchyma and rays not yellow. vessels not reticulate in arrangement. silica wanting .................. (3)

(3) Vessels medium-sized. wood yellow-brown. or brown. or red~ brown. end-cut usually shiny ................ BALAU GROUP

(3) Vessels moderately large. wood deep red-brown. end-cut not shiny .. .. . (5. Kunslleri) RED MERANTI sub-group 3

(4) Wood yellow. light yellow-brown or green (not red) ............. . .... (5) (4) Wood red-brown or light pink.. .... RED MERANTI sub-groups 1 & 2 (5) Wood pa"nchyma and "y Ii;;u, bright y,lIow, v",,",ls "ticulat,

in arrangements, silica present. radial intercellular canals wanting ... .. ............. MERANTI PA'ANG GROUP

(5) Wood pa"nchyma and "y ti;;u, not bright yellow, vessels "dial (not reticulate) in arrangement, silica absent. radial intercellular canals present .................. MEnANTI DAMAn HITAM GROUP

GROUP l.-BALAU Fifteen species of Shorlla are referred to this group, and all produce timber

which may be classified as belonging either to the medium or heavy constructional classes. Those timbers which exceed 55 lb. per cubic foot at 15 per cent. moisture content may be regarded as the balau timber of the trade, formerly and still frequently sold as resak in the F.M.S. Those species whose timbers weigh less than 55 lb . per cubic foot are, with the exception of S. Meadiana. not recognized as balau commerciallyl. For example, the timber

I Specime~ls.()f S. !>lcadi611a weighing over 60 Ib; per cubic foot air dry are known. !j.Q tha t It IS poSSible that the calculated mean given in table 2 is below the average for the speCJes.

dipterocarp timbers of the malay...

Documents