Commercial Hardwood in Myanmar

IN
Dipterocarpus tuberculatus Roxb

IN
BOTANICAL NAME - Dipterocarpus tuberculatus Roxb.
FAMILY - Dipterocarpaceae
VERNACULAR NAME - In, Eng (Myanmar), Pluang (Thailand). Keruing (Standard)
THE TREE - A large tree with a straight bole, 24-37 m (80-120 ft) in height and 1.5-3 m
(5-10 ft) in girth. Clean bole of 18 m (60 ft) is often found. Grows in
association with Ingyin (Pentacme siamensis) and Thitya (Shorea oblongi-
folia). Grown in almost pure stands in most parts of the country.
WOOD DESCRIPTION
Colour - The timber is generally similar in appearance to Kanyin (Dipterocarpus spp.)
to which it is closely related. Reddish brown, turning darker on exposure,
with short whitish resin canals at irregular but relatively close intervals.
Resinous, dull with rough feel. Without distinct odour or taste. Sapwood is
greyish or reddish white, medium thick, about 38.51 mm (1 1/2- 2' inches)
thick in moderate sized log.
Grain - Fairly straight or somewhat interlocked, even and coarse textured.
TECHNICAL PROPERTIES
Specific gravity - 0.726 green and 0.755 air dried. Moderately heavy, 900 kg/m^ (56 Ib/ft^)
green and 850 kg/m^ (53 Ib/ft^) air dry.
Strength - In wood is hard and possesses high strength properties. It is stronger than
Kanyin (Dipterocarpus spp.).
Compression
Moisture Bending Mod. of parallel to Hardness Impact
Content strength Elasticity grain (Radial) Max. drop
(%) lb f/in^ 1000 lb f/in^ lb f/in^ lb inches
(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
50.3 11595 1754 5640 1420 40
(50.3) (80) (12100) (38.9) (645) (1016)
19.4 13925 1964 6785 1615 44
(19.4) (96) (13550) (46.8) (733) (1118)
Movement - Medium, Shrinkage from green to ovendry is 4.4% radially and 9.1%
tangentially.
STRUCTURE OF THE WOOD :
Growth rings . Wanting.
Vessels - Very large to large, the orifices of the larger plainly visible with the naked
33
eye, exhibiting no variation in size to indicate seasonal increments, open
or occasionally plugged with reddish-brown tyloses, frequently with
contiguous rays, forming broad conspicuous vessel lines along the grain
containing occasional deposits of tyloses, the majority solitary, occasionally
paired, fairly close and quite evenly distributed ; truncate or abruptly tailed,
thin-walled ; perforations simple, horizontal or nearly so ; pits leading to
contiguous tracheids grouped in vertical strips, oval to narrowly elliptical,
with lenticular, nearly horizontal orifice and narrow border, occasionally
confluent, the long diameter 7-10 pits leading to contiguous rays rounded
and varible in shape, with broad orifice without evident border, occasionally
confluent and then similar to a large pit spanned by rods ; tyloses sparse
or abundant, reddish-brown, thin-walled, occasionally with deposits of
reddish-brown gum.
- Relatively sparse, paratracheal, generally peripherally flattened about the
vessel, horizontally aligned, narowly bordered, elliptical pits.
- Paratracheal, metatracheal, and encircling all resin canals ; (a) paratracheal
parenchyma relatively sparse, intermingled with tracheids and difficult to
distinguish in the transverse section, forming (with the tracheids) a narrow,
1-several (mostly 1) seriate sheath which is often interrupted by rays and
fibres contiguous to the vessel ; cells contiguous to the vessel peripherally
flattened ; (b) metatracheal parenchyma fairly abundant, scattered or in
short, tangential, usually uniseriate lines, in cambiform rows of usually
4 units along the grain ; (c) parenchyma about the resin canals in rather
broad tracts, frequently extending tangentially and uniting with tracts
encircling neighbouring canals forming broad, 3-10 (mostly 5-8) seriate
bands reaching across a number of rays in which 2-several canals are inserted
at intervals or are rarely contiguous ; reddish-brown gummy infiltration
frequent in all types of parenchyma ; crystals wanting ; starch deposits
not observed.
- Libriform, rather coarse, angled in the transverse section and aligned in
radial rows, forming extensive tracts between the vessels and the rays be
sprinkled with metatracheal parenchyma, non-gelatinous, non-septate ;
inter-fibre pits most numerous on the tangential walls, bordered, with slit-like,
nearly vertical orifice ; infiltration occasional, reddish-brown.
- Scarcely visible with the naked eye, rather fine, heterogenous ; pits leading
to contiguous vessels rounded and variable in shape, with broad orifice
without evident border, occasionally confluent and then similar to a large
pit spanned by rods ; infiltration copious, occluding many cells, reddish-
brown ; crystals wanting ; starch deposits not observed.
- Present, longitudinal, embedded in parenchyma, diffused or 2-several at
intervals or rarely contiguous in broad, 3-10 (mostly 5-7) seriate bands
extending across a number of rays ; epithelium forming a single layer,
thin-walled.
SKASONING - A semi-refractory timber. Seasons slowly with a slight tendency to warping,
splitting and checking. Slow kiln seasoning and air seasoning before kilning
are recommended.
WORKING PROPERTIES - Easy to saw and wotk, takes a fairly smooth finish. Moderate dulling
effect on cutting edges. Good in nailing and screwing properties. Commercial
plywood is made of In and Kanyin. It produces a second grade plywood
and for decorative grades it forms the core.
POLISHING - Polishes fairly well.
AND
STAINING
DURABILITY - Classed as moderately resistant to decay, but not resistant to termites.
AND Under cover it is durable but not so in exposed position. Treated with oil
PRESERVATION and creosote last for eight years under tropical conditions. The timber lends
itself to preservative treatment, but complete penetration is not always
obtained.
USES - Available in large siê and quantities. An excellent internal structural timber,
especially as beams, posts, rafters, scantlings, partition boards and flooring.
Used as sleepers after treatment. Creosoted In is very satisfactory for wharves
and other heavy structures and is extremely resistant to the teredo. This
timber is used also for boats, low grade furniture, carts, and pit props. It
can be used for making shingles and agricultural implements.
35
INGYIN
37
INGYIN
BOTANICAL NAME - Pentacme siamensis (Miq) Kurz. Syn. P. suavis A. DC.
FAMILY - Euphorbiaceae
VERNACULAR NAME - Ingyin, Thitya-Ingyin (Myanmar), Rang (Thailand), Cachac xanh (Vietnam),
Reang-phonom (Cambodia).
THE TREE - A large tree, attaining a height of 24 m (80 ft) and a girth of J.5-1.8 m
(5-6 ft), but in drier areas, below annual rainfall of 1016 mm 00 inches),
the trees are somewhat stunted. The tree occurs throughout Myanmat often
in dry forests together with In (Dipterocarpus tuberculatus) and Thitya
(Shorea oblongifolia).
WOOD DESCRIPTION
- Yellowish brown to greyish brown, with white tangential lines at irregular
Colour intervals, rather dull, with no distinct odour or taste. Sapwood is pale greyish.
Grain - Broadly and usually shallowly interlocked, even and medium-coarse textured.
Specific gravity - 0.779 green and 0.819 air dry. Very heavy, 850-928 kg/m^ (53-58 Ib/ft^)
air dry.
Strength - Very hard and strong.
Compression
content Strength Elasticity grain (Radial) Max. drop
(0/0) lb f/in^ 1000 lb f/in^ lb f/in^ lb inches
(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
54.3 12830 2012 6835 1510 40
(54.3) (89) (13883) (47.2) (686) (1016)
13.4 16075 2278 7875 1640 33
(13.4) ( 111 ) (15718) (54.3) (745) (838)
Movement - Considerable movement. Shrinkage from green to oven dry is 4.8% radially
and 8.9% tangentially.
Growth rings - Wanting.
Vessels - Large to medium sized, those of the heartwood completely plugged with
tyloses and appearing coarsely light punctate with the naked eye, exhibiting
no variation in size to indicate seasonal zones, frequently with contiguous rays,
forming fairly conspicuous vessel lines along the grain filled with tyloses.
39
the inajority solitary or radially paired, occasionally in groups of 3-5 and
then generally radially aligned, evenly distributed and quite close ; thin-
walled, truncate or abruptly short-tailed ; perforations simple, horizontal or
nearly so ; pits leading to contiguous vessels numerous, small, orbicular
to oval, with wide border and small, punctate or broadly lenticular orifice,
occasionally, confluent ; pits leading to contiguous rays several to each
ray cell, simple, rounded, often reticulately grouped ; tyloses very abundant,
occluding all the vessels in the heartwood, thiti-walled ; infiltration not
observed.
^
Tracheids - Abundant, paratracheal, intermingled with parenchyma and usually

peripherally flattened about the vessel, copiously pitted with small orbicular
or oval, widely bordered pits.
Parenchyma - Paratracheal ,paratracheal-zonate, metatracheal,and surrounding all resin
canals, in cambiform rows of usually 2-4
Parenchyma - Paratracheal, paratracheal-zonate, metatracheal, and surrounding all
resin canals, in cambiform rows of usually 2-4 units along the grain,
occasionally divided further into locules containing unusually large solitary
crystals ; (a) paratracheal parenchyma relatively abundant, intermingled with
tracheids and difficult to,distinguish in the transverse section, forming (with
the tracheids) a narrow, 1-several seriate sheath or irregular tract about the
vessel which is interrupted by rays and rarely by fibres contiguous to the
vessel, occasionally extending tangentially and uniting neighbouring vessels
as (b) paratracheal-zonate parenchyma ; cells contiguous to the vessels
peripherally flattened ; cells more remote from the vessels ('a' or 'b'
parenchyma) rounded and often oval and then radially or tangentially
orientated ; (c) metatracheal parenchyma very abundant, appearing punctate
with a hand-lens, solitary or in short, usually uniserlate, tangential lines
which frequently connect wood rays ; cell orbicular to oval or elliptical
and then tangentially orientated ; (d) parenchyma surrounding resin canals
forming broad tangential bands at irregular intervals in which 1-several rows
of resin canals are embedded ; cells in radial rows, generally tangentially
flattened ; infiltration scanty in all types of parenchyma, brownish-yellow ;
crystals occasional in the marginal cells of the 'a' and 'b' parenchyma,
frequent in the 'c' parenchyma, solitary, unusually large.
Fibres - Libriform, fine, rounded or angled in the transverse section and not aligned
in radial rows, forming extensive tracts between the vessels and the rays
copiously be sprinkled with metatracheal parenchyma, non-gelatinous, non-
septate ; pits simple, minute, the slit-like orifice nearly vertical.
Rays - Scarcely visible to the naked eye, rather fine medium distant, separated
by 5-15 fibres of the same colour as the background but forming a relatively
conspicuous fleck on the radial surface, 1-5 (mostly 4) seriate, heterogeneous ;
pits leading to contiguous vessels several to each ray cell, simple, rounded,
often reticulately grouped ; brownish yellow gummy infiltration abundant ;
crystals occasional, unusually large, solitary in enlarged, cyst-like cells, starch
deposits abundant in the rays near the bark.
40
Resin Canals - Visible to the naked eye, longitudinal, solitary or 2-3 contiguous, embedded
in parenchyma in single, double, or triple concentric rows which appear at
irregular but relatively close intervals and extend some distance transversely,
of indefinite length along the grain, epithelium in a single layer, the cells
arching into the canal cavity ; canal orifices angular or rounded ; contents
white (solidified).
SEASONING - A non-refractory timber, not liable to split and surface crack. Seasons
slowly as do many of the Dipterocarpus species.
WORKING PROPERTIES - Saws and machines fairly easily, especially in green condition. As it is
heavy and hard, dried stock works with some difficulty to a good surface,
POLISHING - Takes a good polish.
AND
STAINING
DURABILITY - A very durable timber and proof against white ant. Treatability is very
AND difficult as the timber is hard and heavy. Treatment not normally required
PRESERVATION as it is naturally durable
USES - Thitya and Ingyin are classed and marketed together and are used in heavy
construction where strength and durability are of great importance. Largely
used as railway sleepers without preservative treatment. Also used in building
bridges, boats, carts, bows, tool handles and ploughs. A superior timber
for partly submerged structures and good also for ground contact members.
Ingyin is the first class timber for railway carriage and wagon construction.
Suitable for all classes of buildings and bridge construction.
41
KANYIN
Dipterocarpus species.
KANYIN
BOTANICAL NAME - Dipterocarpus spp.
VERNACULAR NAME - Kanyin (Myanmar), Gurgun (India), Keruing (Malaya, Sarawak, Indonesia),
Yang (Thailand), Apitong (Philippines), Keruing (Standard)
THE TREE - There are thirteen species of Dipterocarpus of which five species are of
greater commercial importance. The name Kanyin is applied to smooth barked
species of Dipterocarpus usually found as isolated individuals in evergreen
and moist deciduous forests throughout the country. The trees are very large,
reaching 49 m (160 ft), in height with 21-30 m (70-100 ft) of clean cylindrical
bole, and a girth of up to 3.7 m (12 ft).
WOOD DESCRIPTION
Colour - Red to reddish brown becoming darker when exposed. Often with lighter,
broken bands containing resin canals. Dull with rough feel, without distinct
odour or taste. Sapwood is pale greyish white or reddish white, narrow to
fairly wide, about 50-70 mm (2-3 inches).
Grain - The grain is usually straight but, occasionally somewhat shallowly

interlocked, rather coarse and even textured.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Specific gravity - Ranges from 0.60 to 0.81 air dry. Wood moderately heavy to heavy. The
weight is 670-780 kg/m^ (42-49 lb/ft') air dry and from 960-1120 kg/m^
(60-70 Ib/ft^) green, according to the species.
Strength - The Kanyins are good strong woods, but properties vary according to the
species. Strength data of D. alatus and D. turbinatus are given below :
Species Moisture Bending Mod. of Compression Hardness Impact
content strength Elasticity parallel (Radial) Max.
to grain drop
(%) lb 1000 lb f/in^ lb inches
f/in^ lb f/in^ (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
(N/mm^) (N/mm^)
73.4 9410 1478 4530 910 29
D.alatus (73.4) (65) (10198) (31.3) (413) (737)
17.2 12505 1896 6500 985 30
(17.2) (86) (13082) (44.8) (447) (762)
D.turbinatus 65.7 11020 2020 5865 1020 32
(65.7) (76) (13938) (40.4) (463) (813)
14.3 15605 2240 7745 1395 41
(14.3) (108) (15456) (53.4) (633) (1041)
45
Movement - Large. Shrinkage from green to ovendry is in the range of 7.5-11.5
tangentially and 2.5-5.5% radially.
STRUCTURE OF THE WOOD
Growth rings - Absent.
Vessels - Extremely large to large, the orifices of the larger appearing as
pin-pricks to the naked eye, exhibiting no variation in size to indicate
seasonal increments, open or occluded with ferruginous tyloses,
frequently with contiguous rays, forming broad conspicuous vessel
lines along the grain containing foam-like tyloses, the majority solitary,
occasionally paired, close and quite evenly distributed ; truncate or
abruptly short-tailed, thin-walled ; perforations simple, horizontal
or nearly so ; pits leading to contiguous tracheids grouped in vertical
strips, elliptical to narrowly elliptical, with lenticular, horizontal, or
oblique orifice and narrow border, rarely confluent, the long diameter
7-10 pits leading to contiguous rays rounded and variable in shape,
often oval and horizontally orientated, with broad orifice without evident
border, occasionally confluent and then similar to a large pit spanned
by rods ; tyloses very abundant, brown, thin-walled, frequently
containing deposits of reddish-brown gum.
Tracheids - Abundant, paratracheal, often peripherally flattened about the vessel,

with numerous, horizontally aligned, narrowly bordered, elliptical pits.
Parenchyma - Paratracheal, metatracheal, and encircling all resin canals ; (a) para-
tracheal parenchyma relatively sparse, intermingled with tracheids and
difficult to distinguish in the transverse section, forming (with the
tracheids) a narrow, 1-several (mostly 1-2) seriate sheath which is often
interrupted by rays and fibres contiguous to the vessel ; cells contiguous
to the vessel peripherally flattened ; (b) metatracheal parenchyma fairly
abundanat, scattered or in short, tangential lines usually one cell in
thickness, in cambiform rows of usually 4 units along the grain ; (c)
parenchyma abut the resin canals in rather broad tracts, frequently
extending tangentially and uniting with tracts encircling neighbouring
canals and forming short tangential bands in which several canals are
embedded ; cells arranged in radial rows, frequently tangentially
flattened ; orange or reddish-brown gummy infiltration frequent in
all types of parenchyma ; crystals wanting ; starch deposits not observed.
Fibres - Libriform, rather coarse, angled in the transverse section and aligned
in radial rows, forming extensive tracts between the vessels and the
rays, non-gelatinous, non-septate, inter fibre pits most numerous on
the tangential walls bordered, with slit-like, nearly vertical
orifice ; infiltration occasional, orange or reddish-brown.
Rays - Rather fine, scarcely visible with the naked eye, 4-6 per mm., separated
by 5-15 rows of fibres, darker than the background forming a high
conspicuous fleck on the radialsurface, 1-5 seriate, heterogeneous ; pits
leading to contiguous vessels rounded and variable in shape, often oval
46
and then horizontally or vertically orientated, with broad orifice without
evident border, occasionally confluent ; infiltration copious, occluding
many cells, orange or reddish-brown ; crystals wanting ; starch deposits
not observed.
- Present, longitudinal, embedded in parenchyma, diffused or 2-several
contiguous or proximate in short, broad, tangential bands of parenchyma,
2-8 per mm^. ; epithelium forming a single layers ; contents white
(solidified).
- This group of species is semi-refractory to kiln seasoning and
moderately easy to air season. Exudation of gummy resin seems to
slow down the drying process in some species. Care in kilning is needed
as the wood is liable to collapse in high temperature. Cupping, end
splitting and surface checking may occur. Air seasoning before kiln
seasoning is recommended.
- Comparatively easy to saw and work. Moderately resistant to resistant
in its ease of working by hand or machine tools. Resin in some species
is trouble-some on tools and machine tables. Planes and moulds to
a clean, slightly fibrous finish in straight grained stock. Takes nails,
screws and glues resonable well. The species is ideal material for strong
utility plywood. Useful as core stock as well.
- Stains and polishes effectively.
- Moderately durable. Not resistant to attack by termites. Durable

under cover but not when exposed or when in contact with the ground.
Resistance to preservative treatment varies from moderately resistant
to resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant.
- Available in large sizes and quantities. A good, average quality
construction timber. If treated, it ranks high for buildings, sleepers,
bridges and other forms of general construction. Other uses are for
railway constructions, telegraphic cross arms, framing, rafters, posts
and beams in building. Also suited for boats, boxes and low grade
furniture. A good flooring timber with high resistance to wear.
47
KYUN
49
KYUN
BOTANICAL NAME - Tectona grandis Linn.f.
FAMILY - Verbenaceae
VERNACULAR NAME - Kyun (Myanmar), Giati (Vietnam) Maysak (Thailand), Teck (Laos),
Jati, Tek (Indonesia) Teak (Standard). This is the only true teak
THE TREE - A large tree attaining a height of 45 m (150 ft), a girth of 3-3.7 m
(10-12 ft) and a clean bole of 25 m (80 ft) in favourable localities.
A height of 30 m (100 ft), a girth of 2.4 m (8 ft) and a clean bole of
11 m (36 ft) is common. Older trees tend to be fluted and buttressed
at the base. Found growing gregariously in mixed deciduous forests
of the plains and lower hills throughout the country, generally below
the 920 m (3000 ft) level.
WOOD PROPERTIES
Colour - Dark golden-yellow, turning brown and dark brown with age.
The colour and the markings of the wood vary considerably with
localities. The best teak of Myanmar from Bago Yoma areas and forests
in Upper Myanmar has a uniform golden colour, occasionally with
darker lines. Teak from dry area is darker in colour, commonly with
dark, broadly wavy streaks, giving the timber an extremely handsome
appearance. The uniform, grey-brown coloured teak occurs in other areas
of the country. Plantation teak closely resembles natural teak but
may be lighter and more yellow in colour. Sapwood is white to pale
yellowish brown, narrow to medium wide. The timber has a distinct
oily feel, is - strongly and characteristically scented but without distinct
taste. Luster dull.
Grain - Normally straight, often wavy when grown in dry localities. Very
coarse and uneven texture.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Specific gravity - 0.568 green and 0.586 air dry. Moderately heavy, 640 kg/m^ (40 Ib/ft^)
air dry and 880 kg/m^ (55 Ib/ft^) green.
Strength - Strong, moderately elastic and hard.
51
Compression
lb f/in^ 1000 lb f/in^ lb f/in^ lb inches
(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
49.4 11460 1640 5710 980 36
(49.4) (79) (11316) (39.4) (445) (914)
14.1 14465 1830 8350 960 31
(14.1) (100) (12627) (57.6) (436) (787)
Movement - Small and exceptionally steady. Shrinkage from green to oven dry
is 1.5% radially and 2.5% tangentially.
Growth rings - Distinct and generally conspicuous with the naked eye, delimited by
a lighter zone of large pores in the springwood followed by a darker
zone of summerwood consisting of denser fibrous tissus and much
smaller pores, frequently with undulate margins, often variable in
width, and the individual rings not infrequently fluctuating greatly
in diameter at different points throughout the circumference, 1-5 per cm.
Vessels - Very variable in size (Wood ring-porous), partially or wholly occluded
with tyloses, occasionally with white deposits consisting largely of calcium
phosphate and sometimes, especially the smaller vessels, with deposits
of yellowish or reddish-brown gum ; springwood vessels extremely
large to very large, the orifices appearing as pin-picks with the naked
eye, inserted in a belt of porous tissue, solitary or in radial rows of
2-3 (mostly 2) or 2 frequently contiguous in the tangential plane forming
a springwood zone 1-3 (mostly 1) vessels, wide, generally with contiguous
rays on one and frequently on both sides ; on the radial surface the
springwood zones appear as lighter, more porous, parallel bands which
alternate with darker zones of denser fibrous tissue ; springwood vessel
segments annular (broader than long), truncate or abruptly short-tailed
at the ends, transition from the spring-wood to the summerwood vessels
gradual (in the wide rings) to more or less abrupt (in the narrow rings) ;
summerwood vessels medium-sized to small ; cells stretched to conform
to the vessel wall ;
Fibres - Non-libriform, coarse, strongly angled in the transverse section and
not aligned in radial rows or inconspicuously so occasionally contiguous
to the vessels, smaller and somewhat thicker-walled toward the outer
margin of the ring, non-gelatinous, septate, with long tapering ends ;
interfibre pits numerous, confined to the radial walls, simple, with
short, slit-like, steeply oblique orifice ; fibre lumina in the heartwood
52
often with yellowish or reddish-brown infiltration which is usually
restricted to a thin parietal layer ; in the very small, solitary and in
radial rows of 2-5 (mostly 2), not united by parenchyma ; occasionally
the smaller summerwood vessels in the outer part of the ring are
accompanied by vessel-tracheids ; inter-vessel pits numerous, orbicular
to oval, with wide border and short lenticular orifice, frequently
confluent ; pits leading to contiguous rays numerous to each ray cell,
orbicular to oval, with medium wide semi-border and rounded (punctate)
orifice ; tyloses fairly abundant in the heartwood, partially occluding
or occasionally completely occluding the vessels, small, globose, thin-
walled, pale yellowish or reddish-brown ; white deposits consisting
largely of calcium phosphate occasionally present, partially or wholly
occluding some vessel segments ; yellowish or reddish-brown gummy
deposits sometimes present.
- Paratracheal, paratracheal-zonate, and metatracheal, in cambiform
rows of 2-8 (frequently 4) units or, where contiguous to the vessels,
often of more than 8 units along the grain ; (a) paratracheal parenchyma
relatively sparse, confined to the immediate vicinity of the vessels and
vessel groups forming a 1-several (mostly 1) seriate sheath which is
interrupted by rays and not infrequently by fibres contiguous to the
sapwood, the lumina are empty or occasionally contain traces of
yellowish infiltration and sometimes simple starch grains.
(b) paratrachael-zonate parenchyma confined to the early springwood
forming a ragged 2-20 (mostly 2-10) seriate band of porous tissue in
which the first row of springwood vessels is partially or wholly
imbedded ; cells of 'b' parenchyma in radial rows, angular and not
appreciably flattened in the tangential plane ; (c) metatracheal
parenchyma extremely sparse, restricted to occasional cells in the fibrous
tracts ; cells angular ; intercellular spaces numerous in the 'b'
parenchyma ; yellowish- or reddish-brown, gummy infiltration fairly
abundant in the heartwood ; pale yellowish infiltration and starch
grains occasionally present in the sapwood ; crystals wanting.
- Distinct with the naked eye, medium-fine, separated by 4-18 fibres,
frequently contiguous to the vessels, lighter than the background forming
a fairly conspicuous, open, silvery fleck on the radial surface, 1-5
seriate, somewhat hetero-geneous ; pits leading to contiguous vessels
numerous to each ray cell, orbicular to oval, with medium-wide semi-
border and rounded ( punctate) orifice ; yellowish or reddish-brown
gummy infiltration fairly abundant in the ray tissue in the heartwood ;
pale yellowish infiltration and starch grains occasionally present in the
sapwood ; crystals wanting.
- Should be stacked in open piles under cover with good air circulation.
Dries quickly without much deterioration. Kiln seasons easily and
degrade is slight. Liable to change colour, but becomes uniform within
a reasonable time.
53
- Saws easily and works with moderate ease by hand and machine tools.
Excellent surface can be obtained. Takes nails and screws fairly well,
but brittle. Glues satisfactorily. Peels well on rotary machine and makes
excellent plywood. Slices nicely for ornamental plywood. Turns and
carves finely with little hand finishing.
- Varnishes and polishes effectively. Filling before polishing is
recommended
- One of the most naturally durable timbers of the world. Practically

impervious to insect and white arts but not immune to to marine borers.
High in resistance to acid and fire. Lasts well in contact with or under
water and lasts indefinitely under cover. Extremely resistant to
preservative treatments.
- Outstanding in a wide range of uses on account of its durability,
strength, moderate weight, ease of working, stability and attractive
appearance. Widely used in ship building, for decking, launches, boats,
deck houses and weather doors. Makes excellent furniture, carvings
and interior fittings for ships, offices and public buildings. In house
construction makes fine doors, frames, windows, window frames, stair-
cases, floors, panelling, cupboards and fittings. Widely used for gates,
fencing, verandahs, garden furniture and exterior joinery. Makes a good
floor with high resistance to wear, especially for moderate traffic in
public buildings. Used for scrubbing towers and fume ducts in chemical
plants as it is resistant to chemicals. Can be used in heavy construction,
like bridges. Makes high grade veneer and plywood. One of the best
all-round timbers of the world.
LETPAN
LETPAN
BOTANICAL NAME - Salmalia malabarica Schott. & Endl. Syn. Bombax malabaricum D C.
FAMILY - Bombacaceae
- Letpan (Myanmar), Semul (India), Ngiew (Thailand), Cottonwood,
VERNACULAR NAME Gon rung do (Vietnam), Randu alas (Indonesia).
- A very large straight, cylindrical-stemmed tree, normally buttressed
THE TREE at the base. Sometimes reaching 40 m (130 ft) in height and 3.7 m
(12 ft) in girth. Very common in the mixed deciduous forests of the
plains throughout the country.
THE TIMBER
Colour - White or pale yellowish brown on exposure without heartwood. Dull
with no distinct odour or taste. Apt to discolour but seasoning yields
fresh white material.
Grain - Straight and even grained. Very coarse textured.
- 0.329 green and 0.333 air dry. Very light, 720 kg/m^ (45 Ib/ft^)
Specific gravity green and 368 kg/m^ (23 Ib/ft^) air dry.
- Very soft. The strength does not play an important role as it is not
Strength used for purposes where strength is a governing factor.
Compression
Cô) lb f/in^ 1000 lb f/in^ lb f/in2 lb inches
(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
121.5 5435 726 2575 350 21
(121.5) (38) (5010) (17.8) (159) (533)
11.6 6130 851 3500 375 19
(11.6) (42) (5870) (24.2) (170) (438)
Movement - Medium, shrinkage from green to oven dry is 2.3% radially and
5.1% tangentially.
Growth rings - Indistinct.
Vessels - Very large, rather distant, the orifices plainly visible with the naked
eye, forming broad conspicuous lines along the grain, solitary or mostly
in radial groups of 2-6 (generally 2-3) thin-walled, unevenly distributed ;
57
perforations simple, nearly horizontal ; pits leading to contiguous
vessels siit-hke, nearly horizontal. Closely crowded ; pits leading to
parenchyma narrowly elliptical, with lenticular orifices and narrow
border ; tyloses abundant, thin-walled ; deposits not observed.
Parenchyma - Very abundant, paratracheal and metatracheal-zonate ; (a)
paratracheal, zonate parenchyma inconspicuous, 1-2 seriate, strongly
peripherally flattened ; (b) metatracheal-zonate parenchyma visible
with a hand-lens forming a fine reticulum with the wood rays, in
cambiform rows of usually 4 units which are storied longitudinally
and cause ripple marks, conspicuous at high magnifications and forming
an appreciable volume of the wood ; lines of 'b' parenchyma 1-2
seriate, somewhat wavy, with ragged contours, radially ; cells orbicular
or broadly oval, units terminating the cambiform rows rounded in
the radial and bluntly gabled in the tangential section ; crystals
occasional ; large ellipsoidal or oval, simple starch grains very
abundant ; yellow-brown deposits occasional.
Fibres - Non-hbriform, in irregular, 1-3 seriate, tangential rows alternating

with, but narrower than, the rows of parenchyma, pits minute, sparse,
the orifice nearly vertical.
Rays - Variable in size, the larger plainly visible with the naked eye, not
sharply delineated through colour, somewhat darker than the background
and forming a conspicuous fleck on the radial surface, 1-7 (mostly 3-6)
seriate, heterogeneous ; pits leading to contiguous vessels narrowly
elliptical, with lenticular orifice and narrow border ; large elliptiguous
vessels narrowly elliptical, with lenticular orifice and narrow border ;
starch grains abundant ; yellowish-brown deposits occasional ;
crystals rare.
Ripple marks - Ripple marks present, traceable to storied rows of canibiiorm

parenchyma, about 20 per cm.
SEASONING - A non-refractory species. Seasoning yields fresh white stock. I m n i e d i a i e
seasoning after conversion is required. Open stacked air seasoning
dries quickly with little degradation.
WORKING PROPERTIES - The timber is easily sawn and worked. It planes and peels well.
POLISHING - It does not take polish and typically needs no polishing as the end
AND uses of the timber are non-decorative.
DURABILITY - A perishable timber but fairly durable under cover after seasoning.
AND Extremely durable in water. Can be readily treated with preservatives
PRESERVATION and penetration is high.
USES - A well established matchwood. An excellent timber for canoes, troughs,
toys, casks, tea boxes, packing cases and ceiling. Makes fair pulp wood.
After treatment, it is a useful timber for weather boards, insulation
boards and shingles.
58
PADAUK
59
PADAUK
BOTANICAL NAME - Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kurz.

FAMILY - Papilionaceae
- Padauk, Pradoo, Maipradou (Thailand), Maidou (Laos), Myanma Padauk
VERNACULAR N A M E (Standard)
- A moderate-sized tree with a cylindrical, straight stem. Common in the
THE TREE upper mixed deciduous and dry forests of Myanmar. It grows to 18-24 m
(60-80 ft) in height and 2-2.5 m (7-8 ft) in girth. A straight bole of 9 m
(30 ft) is common.
WOOD DESCRIPTION
Colour - Bright yellowish red to dark brick red with occasional irregular darker lines.
On exposure, tones down to an attractive golden brown. Sapwood is grey
and narrow without characteristic odour or taste.
Grain - Interlocked, producing a narrow ribbon figure, sometimes very beautifully

curled and mottled. Texture moderately coarse.
air dry and 1070 kg/m^ (67 Ib/ft^) green.
Strength - One of the heaviest, hardest and strongest timber in South-East Asia.
Compression
(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
43.8 15975 1897 8200 2010 52
(43.8) (110) (13090) (56.6) (912) (1320)
12.5 20640 2077 10945 2165 41
(12.5) (142) (14330) (75.5) (983) (1041)
Movement - Small and definitely steady. Shrinkage from green to oven dry is 2.8%
radially and 3.9% tangentially.
Growth rings - Distinct but inconspicuous with naked eye.
Vessels - Very large to medium sized or small, the orifices of the larger plainly
visible with the naked eye, largest and most numerous at the beginning or
in the inner third of the ring, and grading quite gradually to the smallest
61
near the outer boundary of the ring, united by narrow bands of parenchyma,
generally with contiguous rays, open or plugged with reddish-brown gum or
with white deposits, forming fairly conspicuous but broken (interlocked-
grain) vessel lines along the grain containing sparse or copious deposits of
gum or rarely white deposits, perforation simple, horizontal or nearly so ;
pits leading to contiguous vessels oval to orbicular or somewhat angular
through crowding, with wide border and lenticular orifice, with 'sieve-like'
membrane, occasionally confluent ; pits leading to contiguous rays several
to each cell, oval to orbicular or elliptical and often obliquely orientated,
with wide border and lenticular orifice, with 'sieve-like' membrane, not
confluent ; tyloses wanting ; reddish-brown gummy deposits occasional
or frequent occluding segments, forming plugs or in parietal lumps.
- Paratracheal, paratracheal-zonate, and metatracheal in cambiform rows of
2-4 units along the grain which are storied with the vessel segments, substitute
fibres, and wood rays, or further divided into crystal locules containing
solitary crystals ; (a) paratracheal parenchyma restricted to the .mediate
vicinity of the vessels, (b) paratracheal-zonate parenchyma to form narrow,
concentric, mostly continuous and wavy, somewhat ragged bands ; (c)
metatracheal parenchyma abundant, scattered through the tracts of fibrous
tissue, the cells solitary, several contiguous in the tangential plane, or forming
1- several seriate tangential bands which simulate bands of paratracheal-
zonate parenchyma but end blindly ; cells similar to those of the 'b'
parenchyma but generally smaller in diameter ; pale reddish or yellowish-
b r o w n g u m m y infihration abundant but not copious in all types of
parenchyma, usually globular ; crystals frequent in the marginal cells of
the ' b ' parenchyma and in the 'c' parenchyma ; starch deposits not observed.
- Occasional in the zonate parenchyma, storied with the vessel segments,
cambiform rows of parenchyma, and wood rays.
- Non-libriform to semi-libriform (outer portion of the ring), rounded or
angular in the transverse section and inconspicuously aligned in radial rows
in the springwood forming a broad band containing the largest vessels,
elsewhere in the ring arranged in concentric, mostly continuous and wavy,
somewhat ragged, anastomosing bands which alternate with narrower band^
of parenchyma, non-septate, rarely gelatinous; inter-fibre pits mostly confined
to the radial walls, simple, with short lenticular orifice; fibre lumina frequently
occluded with yellowish or reddish-brown gummy infiltration.
- Not visible with the naked eye, very fine, close, separated by 1-4 (mostly
2- 3) rows of parenchyma, storied with the vessel segments, cambiform rows
of parenchyma, and substitute fibres, forming a very fine, even ray-fleck
on the radial surface, 1-2 (frequently 2) seriate, homogeneous, divisible on
the basis of height into two sorts ; pits leading to contiguous vessels several
to each cell, oval to orbicular or elliptical and often obliquely orientated,
with wide border and lenticular orifice, with 'sieve-like' membrane, not
confluent ; yellowish or reddish-brown gummy infiltration abundant but
not copious, occluding occasional cells or in globules ; crystals wanting ;
starch deposits not observed.
Ripple marks Present, scarcely discernible with the naked eye, traceable to storied vessel
segments, cambiform rows of parenchyma, substitute fibres, and wood rays.
SEASONING - A moderately refractory timber. Air dries fairly well with little distortion
or splitting. End coating to slow down the rate of drying and also to prevent
end splitting is recommended. Kiln dries slowly with a comparatively low
percentage of degrade from splitting and warping.
WORKING PROPERTIES - Satisfactory in sawing. Has a moderate blunting effect on cutting edges,
especially when dry, but machines well and with care can be brought to good
surface. Care is needed in planning to overcome the picking up of the grain
on quarter sawn surfaces. It turns, screws and glues satisfactorily. Pre-boring
is advisable for nailing.
POLISHING It polishes well when filled.
AND
STAINING
DURABILITY - Extremely durable and resistant to termites. Extremely resistant to
AND preservative treatment but does not require it generally. Untreated timber under
PRESERVATION most severe conditions lasts more than 12 years.
USES - The best all round timber other than teak. Chief uses are for heavy
construction and buildings. It makes a decorative flooring and has high
resistance to wear ; an excellent parqueting timber. It can be made into
beautiful furniture and is used also in high class joinery works. Fancy turnery,
carvings, tool and knife handles, and decorative cabinets can be made out of
this wood. The burls of this wood are highly ornamental and esteemed for
decorative cabinet works and smoking pipes. In Myanmar, it is also used
for under framing of vehicles and for shafts. It is also good for use in contact
with the ground and is popular for veneering.
63
PANGA
Cross section fx 10) Cross section fx 50)
Terminalia Chebula Retz.

PANGA
BOTANICAL NAME - Termilia chebula Retz.
FAMILY - Combretaceae
VERNACULAR NAME - Panga (Myanmar), Myrabolan (India), Samaw-thai (Thailand)
THE TREE - A tree of deciduous and dry forests, occuring throughout the country. In
drier areas a height of 15 m (50 ft) and girth of 1.5 m (5 ft) is normal, but
in moist forests it attains 21-24 m (70-80 ft) in height and 1.8-2 m (6-7 ft)
in girth.
WOOD DESCRIPTION
Colour - Dark purple or brownish in colour, with a small irregular heartwood.
Dull to lustrous, with smooth feci. No distinct odour or taste. Sapwood is
light greenish, yellowish or brownish grey.
Grain - Interlocked grain in narrow bands, more or less twisted, frequently curled.
Medium fine texture.
Specific gravity - 0.77 green and 0.82 air dry. Heavy to very heavy wood, 940 kg/m^ (59
Ib/ft^) air dry.
Strength - A very hard, tough and strong timber.
Compression
m lb f/in^
(N/mm^)
1000 lb f/in^
(N/mm^)
lb f/in^
(N/mm^)
lb
(Kg)
inches
(mm)
51 12100 1760 6660 1900 40
(51) (83) (12144) (45.9) (863) (1016)
15 (14200) 1870 7740 2730 37
(15) (98) (12900) (53.4) (1239) (940)
Movement - Shrinkage from green to oven dry is 5.5% radially and 9.0% tangentially.
Growth rings - Wanting or scarcely distinct.
Vessels - Medium-sized to small or very small, the orifices appearing white-punctate
with the naked-eye, largest near the inner third or middle of the ring, smallest
near the outer boundary of the ring, and somewhat smaller towards the
inner boundary of the ring, with a narrow sheath of parenchyma (appearing
thick-walled at low magnifications) or united laterally by short interrupted
67
PYINKADO
Xylia dolabrifarmis Benth.

PYINKADO
BOTANICAL NAME - Xylia dolabriformis Benth.
FAMILY - Mimosaceae
VERNACULAR NAME - Pyinkado (Myanmar), Irul (India), Sokram (Cambodia), Cam Xe (Vietnam).
Deng (Thailand) Myanma Iron wood, PYINKADO (Standard)
THE TREE - Occurs throughout the country, chiefly in upper and lower deciduous forests
and evergreen forests, often gregariously. It grows to 30-37 m (1(X)-120 ft)
in height and 3.7 m (12 ft) in girth. A clean bole of 12 m (40 ft) is common.
WOOD DESCRIPTION
Colour - Uniform reddish-brown with few markings or faintly veined with darker
lines. Often streaky and speckled with gum, that gives it a stickily or oily
feel. Turns to dark reddish-brown with ageing. Without characteristic odour
or taste. Sapwood is pale reddish-white and narrow.
Grain - Variable from straight to broadly interlocked, sometimes wavy. The texture
is moderately fine and even.
Sepcific gravity - 0.779 green and 0.816 air dry. Extremely heavy, 1150 kg/m' (72 Ib/ft^) green
and 890 kg/m^ (56 Ib/ft^) air dry.
Strength - A hard and extremely strong timber possessing high strength properties.
Compression
(%) lb f/in' 1000 lb f/in^ lb f/in^ lb inches
(N/mm') (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
48.6 15555 2265 8015 1925 43
(48.6) (107) (15628) (55.3) (874) (109)
10.3 20580 2530 11515 2165 50
(10.3) (142) (17457) (79.6) (983) (1270)
Movement - Medium. Shrinkage from green to oven dry is 3.3% radially and 6.7%
tangentially.
Growth rings - Distinct but barely discernible with a hand-lens (lOX), delimited by a faint
narrow line of terminal parenchyma, 4-6 per cm.
Vessels - Large to medium-sized or small, the orifices of the larger barely discernible
with the naked eye, slightly larger and more numerous through the medium
portion of the ring but exhibiting little variation in size within the growth
73
increment, encircled by a narrow or relatively narrow sheath of parenchyma,
generally with contiguous rays, open or rarely plugged with deposits of
orange-brown gum or rarely with white deposits, forming narrow close vessel
lines along the grain which usually appear darker than the background and
contain occasional gum deposits, the majority solitary and in radial rows
of 2-4 (mostly 2-3) some of which may cross the boundry of the ring, rarely
in short double rows or 2-several contiguous in the tangential plane, close
and quite evenly distributed, 0-22 per mm^ ; perforations simple, nearly
horizontal to somewhat oblique ; pits leading to contiguous vessels numerous,
minute, orbicular to oval, with broad border and short oval (punctate) orifice,
with 'sieve-like' membrane, seldom confluent ; pits leading to ray parenchyma
numerous to eachcell and often in horizontal rows, minute, orbicular to
oval, with broad border and short oval orifice with 'sieve-like' membrane,
occasionally confluent ; incipient formation of tyloses evident, the tyloses
small, appearing bud-like and intruding into the vessel cavity ; orange-brown
gummy deposits common, in parietal lumps, or occluding the narrow
segments ; white deposits occasional.
- Paratracheal, paratracheal-zonate, terminal and metatracheal in cambiform
rows of 2-7 units along the grain or further divided into locules containing
solitary crystals ; (a) paratracheal parenchyma abundant, visible with a
hand-lens and confined to the vicinity of the vessels or vessel groups ; (b)
paratracheal-zonate parenchyma but never form bands ; cells contiguous
to the vessels peripherally flattened, cells more remote from the vessels ('a'
or 'b' parenchyma) rounded and frequently oval ; (c) terminal parenchyma
forming a narrow, 1-several (mostly 1-2) seriate interrupted Hue ; (d)
metatracheal parenchyma very sparse, scattered in the extensive tracts of
fibrous tissue, the cells generally solitary ; orange-brown gummy infiltration
relatively sparse or abundant, occluding occasional cells or forming globules ;
crystals abundant in the 'c' a n d ' d ' types of parenchyma ; starch deposits
not observed.
- Libriform, fine, rounded in the transverse section and arranged in radial
rows, solidly banked in broad tracts between the vessels and the rays, non-
gelatinous, non -septate ; inter-fibre pits mostly confined to the radial walls,
simple, slit-like, steeply oblique ; lumina frequently plugged with deposits
of orange-brown gum.
- Not visible with the naked eye, fine, close (10-13 per mm.), of the same
colour as the background and forming a fine, irregular, inconspicuous fleck
on the radial surface, homogeneous, very variable in height (tangential
surface) ; pits leading to contiguous vessels numerous to each cell and often
in horizontal rows, minute, orbicular to oval, with broad border and short
oval orifice, with 'sieve-like' membrane, notconfluent ; orange-brown gummy
infiltration sparse or relatively abundant, occluding occasional cells or forming
'globules ; crystals wanting ; starch deposits not observed.
- Not a readily refractory timber to season, but may have a tendency to
surface check, split and warp. Air dries slowly but with little degrade. Kiln
seasons satisfactorily with low shrinkage, but hairrchecks and warping may
develop during the process.
- Hard to saw and work in all machine processes. It is also hard to work
with hand tools. Sawing green is preferable. It has a severe blunting effect
on cutting edges, but with moderate care a fine, smooth finish can be obtained.
Predrilling is necessary in nailing,
- Takes an excellent and lasting polish. Very attractive after polishing.
- Very durable and resistant to lei niiie attack, but not entirely immune from
it. It is also resistant to marine borers. The heartwood is extremely resistant
to preservative treatment and sapwood is moderately resistant.
- Suitable for heavy, structural work especially as piles, bridge girders,
harbour work, and wharf decking. It is an excellent timber both for ground
and water contacted structures. Good to use as posts, beams, scantlings
and framing of high grade houses and public buildings. One of the best railway
sleepers. It makes an attractive and decorative floor for public buildings and
in highly resistant to abrasion. Other uses are railway wagon construction,
telegraph posts, cart wheels, tool handles, boat building and pit props.
Pyinkado is one of the most useful timbers where strength, durability, beauty,
and resistance to wear and tear are required. Large sized timbers are available.
75
SAGAWA
Michelia champaca Limi.

SAGAWA
BOTANICAL NAME - Michelia champaca Linn.
FAMILY - Magnoliaceae
VERNACULAR NAME - Sagawa (Myanmar), Champ (India), Champapa (Thailand), Gioi, Su

(Vietnam). Champaka (Standard)
THE TREE - A large evergreen tree of the plains and lower hill forests of Myanmar.
A straight, clean and cylindrical bole of 18-21 m (60-70 ft) is often found.
Attains a height of 30.5 m (100 ft) and a girth of 2.4-3.0 m (8-10 ft).
WOOD DESCRIPTION
Colour - Light yellowish brown to olive brown ; somewhat lustrous. Sapwood is
narrow and pale grey. No taste or odour.
Grain - Straight grained, even and medium textured, smooth feel.
TECHNICAL PREPERTIES
Specific gravity - 0.426 green and 0.441 airdry. Light, 912 kg/m^ (57 Ib/ft^) green and 480
kg/m^ (30 Ib/ft^) airdry.
Strength - Soft and low in strength.
Compression
(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
112.9 8010 1194 610 610 26
(112.9) (55) (8239) (277) (277) (660)
8.8 9250 1387 760 760 23
(8.8) (64) (9570) (345) (345) (584)
Movement - Small movement, once the timber is dry. Shrinkage from green to ovendry
is 3.2% radially and 5.2% tangentially.
Growth rings - Distinct, delimited by light lines of terminal parenchyma, 2-3 per cm.
Vessels - Small to very small, the orifices appearing small with a hand lens those
in the outer portion of the ring somewhat reduced in size, open or occasionally
plugged with tyloses, frequently with contiguous rays, forming fine
inconspicuous vessel Unes along the grain, containing scanty tyloses, solitary
and in radial single or double rows of 2-4, quite evently distributed but
somewhat less abundant in the outer portion of the ring ; medium thin-walled.
79'
with steeply oblique ends ; perforations scalariform with 2-5 horizontal bars
separated by wide openings, obhque ; inter-vessel pits mostly scalariform
and horizontally orientated, with rather narrow border and linear orifice ; pits
leading to contiguous rays with rather large, angular and window-like orifices
and narrow semi-border, often confluent, forming a larger pit spanned by
rod-like partitions ; tyloses scanty, thin-walled.
Parenchyma - Terminal, paratracheal, and metatracheal, in cambiform rows along the
grain which frequently consist of 7 units ; (a) terminalparenchyma forming
a board, 2-8 seriate, more or less lagged band delimiting the growth ring ;
cells arranged in radial rows, angular in the transverse section and generally
squarish or rectangular and then tangentially orientated ; (b) paratracheal,
and (c) metatracheal parenchyma very sparse, difficult to distinguish from
the fibres in the transverse section ; infiltration scanty, pale lemon-yellow ;
crystals wanting ; starch deposits frequently present in the outer rings.
Fibres - Non-libriform, coarse, angled in the transverse section and arranged in
radial rows, forming extensive, nearly solid tracts between the vessels and the
rays, non-gelatinous, non-septate ; lumen wide ; interfibre pits abundant,
most numerous on the radial walls, bordered, with small court and long,
slit-like, oblique orifice ; infiltration wanting.
Rays - Fine but visible with the naked eye, straight, separated by 2-10 rows of
fibres, more lustrous than the background forming a conspicuous fleck on
the radial surface, 1-4 (mostly 3) seriate, heterogeneous, occasionally very
large ray cells are present which are generally solitary and contain a globule
of lemon-yellow gum ; pits leading to contiguous vessels with rather large,
angular and window-like openings and narrow semi-border, often confluent
forming a larger pit spanned by rod-like partitions, the long diameter ;
infiltration scanty, pale lemon-yellow ; starch deposits frequently present
in the outer rings ; crystals absent.
SEASONING - A non-refractory timber. The wood can be air seasoned without difficulty
or degrade, but care in handling is required. Kiln seasoning presents no
difficulties, but the wood seems to lose colour during drying and is inclined
to become dull.
WORKING PROPERTIES - Easy to saw and machine. Works to a beautiful smooth surface and is
an attractive wood to handle. Turns well and makes excellent veneers for
utility plywood.
POLISHING - Takes stain and polish nicely.
AND
STAINING
DURABILITY - Fairly durable. Readily treatable with preservatives and the penetration
AND is more or less complete.
PRESERVATIONS
USES - Used for planking, house building, joinery work, furniture, boats, and
cabinet making. Very suitable for application requiring no taste nor smell.
Excellent for veneering.
SIT
Albizzia procera Benth.

SIT
BOTANICAL NAME - Albizzia procera Benth.
FAMILY - Mimosaseae
- Sit (Myanmar), White Siris (India), Thon (Thailand), Sada koroi (Pakistan),
VERNACULAR NAME Wangka! (Indonesia).
- A fast growing tree of swampy lands in the plains all over Myanmar.
THE TREE One of the commonest colonizing trees in the country. Reaches 24-27 m
(80-90 ft) in height and 1.5-1.8 m (5-6 ft) in girth.
WOOD DESCRIPTION
Colour - Brown shining with alternate belts of darker and lighter colour. Possesses
a pleasing golden lustre that shows up well under polish. Sapwood white
with yellowish cast ; and often fairly wide.
Grain - Straight or interlocked in broad bands. Very coarse and even textured.
Specific gravity - 0.45 - 0.60 green. Light to moderately heavy, 608-640 kg/m^ (38-40 Ib/ft^)
air dry.
Strength - A strong, elastic, tough and hard wood
Compression
(%) lb f/in^ 1000 lb f/in^ lb f/in2 lb inches
(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
Green 9525 1283 4850 1275 N.A.
(Green) (66) (8853) (33.5) (579) (-)
12.5 17980 2071 10600 1800 N.A.
(12.5) (124) (14290) (73.1) (817) (-)
N.A. = Not available

Movement - Very steady once seasoned. Shrinkage from green to oven dry is 3.1 radially
and 6.9*70 tangentially.
Growth rings - Distinct but inconspicuous.
Vessels - Extremely large or medium-sized, the orifices of the larger appering as
pin-pricks with the naked eye, open or plugged with deposits of reddish-
83
brown gum, encircled by a broad halo of parenchyma which sometimes
unites with those about adjoining vessels, forming short, often obHque,
broken bands, appearing as dark, broad, conspicuous vessel lines along
the grain containing frequent deposits of reddish-brown gum, united to the
rays by parenchyma or occasionally with contiguous rays, the majority
solitary, the remainder in radial rows of 2-4 (mostly 2) rarely paired in the
tangential plane, or in small nests, in general quite evenly distributed but
locally unevenly distributed ; vessel segments short, thin-walled ; perforations
simple, horizontal to somewhat oblique ; pits leading to contiguous vessels
numerous, oval to elliptical, with broad border and linear-lenticular orifice
with 'sieve-like' membrane, frequently contluent ; pits leading to longitudinal
or ray parenchyma similar but smaller ; tyloses wanting ; copious deposits
of reddish-brown gum present.
Parenchyma - Paratracheal, paratracheal-zonate, terminal, and metatracheal, in cambiform
rows of 2-4 (mostly 4) units along the grain or occasionally divided further
into crystal locules ; (a) paratraclieal parenchyma abundant, visible with
the naked eye. (b) paratracheal-zonate parenchyma and then often forming
short, broken, commonly oblique bands ; (c) terminal parenchyma not
distinct with the naked e\e, associated with thiruicr-wallcd fibres and forming
a sharply defined, mostly continuous, uniscriatc, light brown line ; (d)
metatracheal parenchyma sparse, diffuse, scattered in the broad tracts of
fibrous tissue ; crystals abundant in the marginal cells of the tracts of 'a'
and ' b ' parenchyma ; and in the terminal and metatracheal parenchyma ;
starch deposits (heartwood) not observed.
Fibres - Non-librilorm, rather coarse, angled in the transverse section, not definitely
aligned in radial rows, forming extensive tracts between the vessels and the
rays, the last several layers thinner-walled and forming a narrow line with
the terminal parenchyma, in part septate, in part gelatinous ; infiltration
not observed.
Rays - Not visible without a lens, fine, separated by 5-15 fibres (tangential surface),
5-10 per m m . , darker than the background forming a fine, relatively
conspicuous fleck on the radial surface, homogeneous, 1-4 (mostly 2-3)
seriate ; pits leading to contiguous vessels in horizontal rows, oval to elliptical,
with broad border and linear-lenticular orifice, with sieve-like membrane,
not confluent ; reddish-brown gummy infiltration abundant (heartwood),
occluding the majority of the ray cell ; crystals wanting ; starch deposits
not observed.
WORKING PROPERTIES - Sawing is not difficult. The wood is hard and therefore not always easy to
work, but can be finished with care to a good, handsome surface. Sliced
veneering is recommended.
POLISHING - Takes an excellent polish but requires careful filling.

AND
STAINING
- Durable under cover and moderately durable iil exposed conditions.
Heartwood very difficult to treat with preservatives, but sapwood easily
treatable.
- Excellent for high grade, dark coloured furniture, flooring, gun stocks, and
carvings. Used in general constructions for bridges, posts, beams, scantlings,
planks and boards. Well fitted for vehicle body and wheel construction and
for boxes.
85
TAMALAN
TAMALAN
BOTANICAL NAME - Dalbergia oliveri Gamble.
FAMILY - Papilionaceae.
VERNACULAR NAME - Tamalan (Myanmar), Ching-chan (Thailand), Cam lai bong (Indonesia),
(Myanma Tulip Wood, Myanma Rose Wood.) PALISANDER (Standard).
THE TREE - A medium sized tree of 24 m (80 ft) in height and a girth of 1.8 m (6 ft).
A clean bole of 7.5 m (25 ft) is common, found in dry deciduous and Indaing
forests from the Bago Yoma northwards.
WOOD DESCRIPTION
Colour - Ranges from shades of lemon pink or red-scarlet to bright red or reddish
brown, with distinctly darker lines or markings, very handsome and
ornamental, darkening on exposure. Somewhat lustrous when exposed but
soon becoming dull. With faint, pleasant odour, but without distinct taste.
The sapwood is white or yellowish white and narrow.
Grain - Straight to slightly interlocked grain with a medium texture.
Specific gravity - 1.00 air dry. Very heavy, 1024 kg/m^ (64 Ib/ft^) air dry and 1056 kg/m^
(66 Ib/ft^) green.
Strength - Very strong, fairly elastic and very hard, no strength data available.
Movement - No data available. The movement seems small although the shrinkage
from green to air dry appears to be large.
Growth rings - Visible with the naked eye, distinct but not conspicuous.
Vessels - Unevenly distributed and often rather distant, large to medium-sized or small,
largest and most numerous at the beginning or inner half of the ring, smallest
and most distant in the outer portion of the ring, the majority plugged
wholly or in part with deposits of brownish-yellow or yellowish-brown gum,
the orifices of the larger visible with the naked eye, forming rather conspicuous
straight or nearly straight reddish-brown vessel lines along the grain containing
copious deposits of brownish-red gum, frequently with contiguous rays,
the majority solitary and in radial rows of 2-4 (mostly 2-3) occasionally
in longer rows and then smaller or tapering in size, or in small nests, vessel
segments relatively short, storied with the cambiform rows of parenchyma,
substitute fibres, and wood rays, rather thick-walled, perforations simple,
horizontal or nearly so ; pits leading to contiguous vessels not crowded,
oval to elliptical, with broad border and lenticular orifice, with 'sieve-like'
membrane, occasionally confluent ; pits leading to ray parenchyma several to
each cell, oval to elliptical and horizontally aligned, with relatively narrow
89
border and oval or lenticular orifice, with 'sieve-likd' membrane, rarely
confluent ; deposits of brownish-yellow to reddish-brown gum frequent,
in parietal lumps and occluding vessel segments.
Parenchyma - Paratracheal, paratracheal-zonate, and metatracheal, in cambiform rows
of usually 2 or, near the vessels, of 4-5 units along the grain, storied with
the vessel segments, substitute fibres, and wood rays, the rows often divided
into crystal locules (frequently 8) along the grain; (a)
paratracheal parenchyma relatively abundant ; (b) paratracheal-zonate
parenchyma very abundant, visible with the naked eye, forming concentric,
mostly continuous, attain their greatest width and widest spacing near the
middle of the ring, and alternate with border bands of fibrous tissue ; (c)
metatracheal parenchyma very sparse, restricted to the concentric bands of
fibrous tissue ; crystals abundant in the marginal cells of the 'b' parenchyma,
solitary in series of the locules (often 8) along the grain ; starch deposits
present in the sapwood.
Fibres - Semi-libriform to libriform, medium coarse, rounded or angled and not
aligned in radial rows, arranged in concentric, somewhat undulate (spring-
wood) or nearly straight (summerwood) bands which are broader than the
alternating bands of parenchyma and attain their greatest width in the
springwood, non-septate, frequently gelatinuous, inter-fibre pits simple,
slit-Uke, relatively sparse, mostly confined to the radial walls ; lumina
occasionally occluded with deposits of brownish-yellow to reddish-brown gum.
Rays - Not visible with the naked eye, fine, close, straight or nearly so, brown,
lighter and more lustrous than the background forming a low relatively
inconspicuous fleck on the radial surface, storied with the vessel segments,
cambiform rows of parenchyma, and substitute fibres, 1-4 (mostly 1-3)
seriate, homogeneous or nearly so, divisible into two sorts on the basis of
height ; pits leading to continguous vessels several to each cell, oval to
elliptical and horizontally aligned, with relatively narrow border and oval
or lenticular oriflice, with 'sieve-like' membrane, rarely confluent ; brownish-
yellow or yellowish-brown gummy infiltration scanty.
Ripple marks - Present, visible with the naked eye.
SEASONING - Air seasoning with care is needed. Liable to surface checking, end splitting
with some tendency to warp and twist. Kiln seasons satisfactorily under a
very slow seasoning schedule.
WORKING PROPERTIES - Very hard. Difficult to saw and work. Frequent sharpening of tools is
required, but it takes an excellent finish. Carves and turns very nicely.
POLISHING - Takes a beautiful and lasting polish.
AND
STAINING
- Very durable both under cover and in exposed positions. No preservative
treatment may be necessary.
- Suitable for high class cabinet work and very good for turnery and carving.
The colour and the figure are highly ornamental and attractive. Bent furniture
and bent walking sticks can be manufactured. Makes fine decorative panels,
parqueting and furniture. Also used for making handles, brush backs, wheels
and musical instruments. Excellent for making high grade veneer and plywood.
TAUKKYAN
Tenninalia tomentosa Wight & Am.

TAUKKYAN
BOTANICAL NAME - Terminalia tomentosa Wight & Arn.
FAMILY - Combretaceae
VERNACULAR NAME - Taulckyan (Myanmar), Cam Lien (Vietnam), ChhHk (Cambodia), Laurel
(India), Rokfa (Thailand), Indian Laurel (Standard).
THE TREE - A common tree, widely distributed throughout the country. Attains a
height of 34 m (110 ft) with girth of 4 m (14 ft) in favourable conditions.
A clear straight, cylindrical bole of 15 m (50 ft) is common. Occurs both
in moist and dry deciduous forests of Myanmar. Available in large volume.
WOOD DESCRIPTION
Colour - Varying from light walnut brown to deep chocolate, finely streaked with
darker lines to dark brown or brownish-black. Often beautifully banded with
streaks of darker colour. An attractive and handsome wood. Dull to lustrous,
without characteristic odour or taste. Sapwood is reddish white or pinkish
white and narrow.
Grain - Fairly straight, with a medium te.xture. Sometimes an irregular, interlocked
grain produces various types of figure.
Specific gravity - 0.707 green and 0.752 air dry. Weight 1090 kg/m^ (68 Ib/ft^) green and
850 kg/m^ (53 Ib/ft^) air dry.
Strength - A hard and strong timber.
Compression
(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
53.5 11290 1662 5590 1540 39
(53.5) (78) (11468) (38.6) (700) (990)
13.2 15380 1906 8275 2050 48
(13.2) (106) (13150) (57.1) (930) (1219)
Movement - Large. Shrinkage values from green to oven dry are 4.8% radially and 7.1 %
tangentially.
- Distinct but inconspicuous.
- Very large to medium-sized, the orifices of the larger distinct with the
naked eye, in the wider rings largest near the inner boundary and grading off
gradually to the outer margin, exhibiting but slight reduction in size in the
narrower rings, open or plugged with reddish-brown gum or occasionally
with tyloses, with contiguous rays on one or both sides, forming conspicuous
vessel lines along the grain containing copious deposits of reddish-brown gum
and frequently tyloses ; reddish-brown gummy infiltration abundant,
occluding many vessel segments, tyloses numerous, medium thick-walled,
in foam-like clusters.
- Paratracheal, paratracheal-zonate, terminal, and metatracheal, in cambiform
rows of 2-several units along the grain which frequently are divided again by
a horizontal cross-wall into two locules containing larege solitary crsytals ;
(a) paratracheal parenchyma abundant, forming a narrow, 1-several seriate,
ragged sheath, frequently with short lateral extension across the rays which
end blindly or rarely unite with those from other vessels as (b) paratracheal-
zonate parenchyma to form short, wavy, interrupted, ragged tangential
bands ; cells of 'a' parenchyma contiguous to the vessel peripherally flattened ;
(c) terminal parenchyma forming a light brown, somewhat undulate, seriate
line ; (d) metatracheal parenchyma sparse, restricted to occasional cells
in the tracts of fibrous tissue ; reddish-brown gummy infiltration copious
in all types of parenchyma, occluding many of the cells ; crystals abundant,
large, solitary in the locules ; starch deposits not observed (heartwood).
- Non-libriform, medium fine, angled and variable in size in the tranverse
section and more or less aligned in radial rows, forming extensive tracts
between the large vessels tranverse by narrow, close wood rays, often more
or less gelatinous in broad tangential patches, frequently septate ; infiltration
very abundant, occluding most of the fibre lumina in the heartwood.
- Appearing extremely fine with a hand-lens (10%), close homogeneous or
nearly so ; pits leading to contiguous vessels several to many to each ray
cell, orbicular to elliptical, with evident semi-border and lenticular orifice,
with pitted membrane,, reddish-brown gummy infiltration copious in the
heartwood, occluding many ray cells ; crystals wanting starch deposits not
observed.
- A refractory timber. Air seasoning fairly difficult, especially in large
dimensions. Stacking under cover and good protection to reduce rapid drying
results in less degrade. Can be dried in kilns with complete success and with
practically no degrade, even in very wide boards.
- Normal, straight grained stock usually fairly easy to work to a good finish.
Cross-grained stock on the other hand is more difficult. Turns, screws and
glues well. Has been sliced satisfactory for veneers and, with proper selection
and matching, is comparable with figured walnut. Planes to a mirror finish
with polish.
POLISHING - It takes a good polish after filling. Wax polish is recommended.
AND
STAINING
DURABILITY - Durable under cover but moderately durable in exposed positions. It is
AND resistant to dry rot and to white ants, but not entirely immune to it. It can
PRESERVATION be treated readily with preservatives.
USES - An excellent timber for decorative purposes, such as cabinet work, interior
finish, flooring, furniture and veneers. Instrument cabinets and interior
fittings for ships and offices can be made with great appearance out of
this wood. It is also suitable for handles, walking sticks and special implements.
It is a substitute for black walnut.
97
TAUNG-THAYET
TAUNG-THAYET
BOTANICAL NAME - Swintonia floribunda Griff.
FAMILY - Anacardiaceae
VERNACULAR NAME - Taungtfiayet (Myanmar), Civit (Palcistan) Boilam (India), Kiian-thong

(Tfiaiiand) Merpauh (Malaysia). Taung-thayet, Merpauh (Standard)
THE TREE - A large, tall tree found abundantly in evergreen forests of lower Myanmar.
Attains 24.5-36.5 m (80-120 ft) in height and 2.4-2.8 m (8-9 ft) in girth.
A clean bole of 24.5 m (80 ft) can be obtained. Fluted at the base.
WOOD DESCRIPION
Colour - Greyish white to grey, sometimes with a faint purplish cast, frequently with
pale brown lines along the grain. Heartwood not distinct. Lustrous when
first exposed, but subject to stain. No distinctive odour or taste.
Grain - Straight grained and of even and rather coarse texture.
Specific gravity - 0.551 green and 0.575 air dry. A medium weight timber 860 kg/m^
(54 Ib/ft^) green and 660 kg/m^ (41 Ib/ft^) air dry.
Strength - A soft but reasonably strong wood.
Compression
(07o) lb f/in^ 1000 lb f/in^ lb f/in^ lb inches
(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
58.5 8625 1638 4095 750 28
(58.5) (60) (11300) (28.3) (341) (711)
13.7 11435 1853 5590 845 28
(13.7) (79) (12786) (38.6) (384) (711)
Movement - The movement seems considerable. Shrinkage from green to oven dry is
3.2% radially and 6.0% tangentially.
Growth rings - Not distinct or scarcely distinct.
Vessels - Very large to medium-sized, the orifices of the larger (When not occluded
with tyloses) plainly visible with the naked eye, forming broad conspicuous
light brown vessel lines along the grain, open or occluded with tyloses,
frequently with contiguous rays, the majority solitary or in radial rows of
101
2-4 (mostly 2), rarely two contiguous in the tangential plane, showing little
reduction in size to conform to growth rings, rather unevenly distributed
locally and less abundant in the outer portion of the ring ; pits leading to
contiguous vessels numerous, oval to orbicular or angular through crowding,
with broad border and horizontal lenticular orifice which does not reach the
margin of the pit cavity ; pits leading to ray parenchyma several to each cell,
rounded and the majority elliptical or oval and horizontally aligned, with
wide orifice and narrow border ; tyloses abundant, occluding many vessels,
rather thick-walled ; small deposits of reddish-brown gum occasional in
the tyloses.
Parenchyma - Paratracheal, paratracheal-zonate, terminal and metatracheal, in cambiform
rows of 2-6 (mostly 4) units along the grain ; (a) paratracheal parenchyma
not distinct with a hand-lens, sparse ; (b) paratracheal-zonate parenchyma ;
cells contiguous to the vessels peripherally flattened ; (c) terminal
parenchyma (When the growth rings are distinguishable) comparable to the
paratracheal-zonate parenchyma, forming a 1-7 (mostly 3-6) seriate band on
the outer face of a broad fibrous zone containing fewer vessels and little
or no zonate parenchyma ; reddish-brown gummy infiltration present in
all types of parenchyma, but not abundant crystals lacking ; starch deposits
not observed.
Fibres - Non-libriform, rather coarse, aligned in radial rows, gelatinous, those in

the outer portion of the ring (When it is evident) somewhat thicker-walled
and less gelatinous, non-septate ; inter-fibre pits confined to the radial walls,
small, simple, slit-like.
Rays - Not distinct with the naked eye, rather fine, light brown and somewhat
darker than the background on the radial surface forming a fine conspicuous
fleck, 1-3 (mostly 2) seriate of fusiform with horizontal gum canals and then
5-7 seriate through the median portion, heterogeneous, pits leading to
contiguous vessels several to each cell, rounded and the majority eUiptical
or oval and horizontally aligned, with wide orifice and narrow border ;
reddish-brown gummy infiltration abundant but not copious, forming globules
or filling some cells ; crystals lacking ; starch grains not observed.
Gum canals - Occasional, horizontal, irregularly distributed to the wood rays ; contents
pale brownish-yellow.
SEASONING - A non-refractory timber, not difficult to season and not prone to cracking
or splitting, but hable to develop fungal stain when green and therefore should
be dried quickly. Open piles under cover with good air circulation is the best
way to air season. Kiln seasoning is far better than air drying and gives
excellent results.
WORKING PROPERTIES - Saws easily and machines to a moderately smooth surface. Although it is
soft, nail holding capacity is good. It peels well for veneers but fungal staining
must be controlled.
POLISHING - Hard to polish.
AND
STAINING
DURABILITY - Not durable in exposed positions but fairly durable under cover and under
AND wâter. Treats fairly readily with preservatives, penetration being almost complete.
PRESERVATION
USES - Suitable for veneers and plywood and if treated is an excellent medium-weight
wood for many purposes including low cost housing, boxes and crates, boats,
matches and general construction.
103
THINGAN
THINGAN
BOTANICAL NAME - Hopea odorata Roxb.
VERNACULAR NAME - Thingan (Myanmar), Sao (Vietnam) Mai Takien (Thailand), Koki (Cam-
bodia) Kawang (Indonesia) Sanga (South East Borneo), Merawan (Malaysia/
Standard).
THE TREE - A large, tall tree with large crown. The bole is cylindrical and a clean
length of 25 m (80 ft) is common. Grows up to 45 m (150 ft) in height and
to a girth of 3.6-4.3 m (12-14 ft) found in the evergreen and moist forests of
southern Myanmar.
WOOD DESCRIPTION
Colour - Greyish yellow, pale yellow, or yellowish brown. Darkens slightly to
attractive golden brown on exposure, with white tangential lines at irregular
intervals. Lustrous when first exposed, becoming dull with age. Without
odour or taste. Sapwood is paler in colour and moderately well defined.
Grain - Straight to sHghtly interlocked. Moderately fine and even texture.
Strength - Hard, strong and elastic.
Compression
(%). lb f/in^ 1000 lb f/in^ lb f/in^ lb inches
(N/mm2) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
73.9 11500 1513 6275 1370 34
(73.9) (79) (10440) (43.3) (622) (864)
12.1 13735 1672 6705 1395 29
(12.1) (95) (11537) (46.3) (633) (737)
Movement - Small. Shrinkage from green to oven dry is 3.4% radially and 6.5%
tangentially.
107
- Wanting or scarcely distinct and approximately 3 per cm.
Vessels medium sized, the orifices barely visible with the naked eye, exhibiting
little or no variation to indicate growth rings, open or plugged with tyloses,
frequently with contiguous rays, forming quite conspicuous vessel hues
along the grain which are partially occluded with tyloses, solitary for the
most part, occasionally paired or 3-6 in a group, fairly close and quite evenly
distributed ; perforations simple, horizontal or nearly so ; pits leading to
contiguous vessels numerous, oval to elliptical, with medium wide border
and lenticular horizontal orifice, occasionally confluent ; pits leading to
contiguous rays several to each ray cell ; small, rounded and variable in
shape, simple ; tyloses abundant, thin-walled, occluding many segments.
- Sparse, paratracheal, intermingled with parenchyma, oval or elliptical,
horizontally orientated pits.
- Very abundant, paratracheal, paratracheal-zonate, metatracheal, and in
tangential bands (containing resin canals) which appear at irregular and
usually distant intervals, in cambiform rows of 2-5 units along the grain ;
(a) paratracheal parenchyma intermingled with tracheids forming a 1-4 seriate
sheath or ragged tract about the vessels or vessel group which is interrupted
by rays and less frequently by fibres contiguous to the vessel, occasionally
extending tangentially as (b) paratracheal-zonate parenchyma and uniting
vessels but never forming concentric bands ; (c) metatracheal parenchyma
scattered or in short, usually uniseriate, tangential rows which often connect
wood rays ; (d) tangential bands of parenchyma (with resin canals) which
appear at irregular intervals 10-14 seriate, forming concentric arcs which
often extend long distances, of indefinite length along the grain ; cells of
'd' parenchyma tangentially flattened ; gummy infiltration scanty in all
types of parenchyma, pale lemon-yellow ; crystals wanting ; starch grains
not observed.
- Non-libriform, medium fine, rounded in the transverse section and more
or less arranged in radial rows, forming tracts between the vessels and the
rays abundantly be sprinkled with metatracheal parenchyma, non-gelatious,
non-septate ; inter-fibre pits simple, sparse, confined largely to the radial
walls, the orifices nearly vertical.
- Scarcely visible with the naked eye, fine, 5-6 per mm., separated by 5-15
rows of fibres, of the same colour as the background forming a relatively
low but fairly conspicuous fleck on the radial surface, 1-7 (mostly 4-6) seriate,
heterogeneous ; pits leading to contiguous vessels several to each ray cell,
small, rounded and variable in shape, simple ; gummy infiltration scanty,
pale lemon-yellow ; crystals numerous, solitary in the 'upright' cells ; starch
deposits not observed.
Resin canals - Present, longitudinal, solitary or 2-3 contiguous, zonate, inserted in
tangential bands of parenchyma in uniseriate rows which appear at wide and
irregular intervals in the transverse section, extending for indefinite distances
along the grain ; epithelium conspicuous, forming a single layer, the cells
pitted and arching into the canal cavity ; canal orifices rounded, very
variable in size ; contents pale yellowish-white.
SEASONING - Not difficult but care to avoid surface checking is needed. Kiln seasons
without difficulty or degrade, but slow drying schedule is suggested.
WORKING PROPERTIES - Somewhat difficult to saw and work but finishes to a good surface. Fit for
plywood manufacture.
POLISHING - Takes a good polish.
AND
STAINING
DURABILITY - Naturally very durable. Untreated sleepers last for 16 years. Not attacked
AND by white ants. Rarely calls for treatment. Not difficult to treat.
PRESERVATION
USES - An excellent structural timber. Suitable for use where durability and strength
are of importance, such as for bridge construction, piers, pile driving, ship
building and railway sleepers. Furniture, casks, shingles, and agricultural
implements can be manufactured. Suitable as a flooring as it has high resistance
to wear. Promising for shoe and boot lasts. Highly suitable for rollers in
the textile industry. Also good for use in ground contact, makes plywood
of utiUty grade.
109
THINWIN
11
THINWIN
BOTANICAL N A M E i--' - Millettia pendula Benth. ' ^ r ' '
FAMILY * - Papilionaccae "'^ ; h' ;1
VERNACULAR NAME - Thinwin (Myanmar)
FHETREE ,- A moderate sized tree, reaching 21-24 m (70-80 ft) ih height and 1.8-2.1 m
(6-7 ft) in girth. A clean bole o f 8 m (25 ft) in length is common. Occurs in
the drier forests o f Myanmar.
WOOD D E S C R I P T I O N
Colour îcnos-'i^-^ff-,-.*. - Purplish-brown to chocolate brown, striated with dark and light tissue zones
that make the timber handsome. D u l l , with faint smell o f tar but without
distinct taste. Heartwood is small. Sapwood is white or yellowish white.
i Grain . - Straight or narrowly and shallowly interlocked, medium coarse texture.
TECHNICAL P R O P E R T I E S
Specific gravity - 0.97 green. Exceptionally heavy, 1025-1105 kg/m^ (64-69 Ib/ft^) air dry.
Strength - Strong and very hard. -
Compression
(%) lb f / i n ^ 1000 lb f / i n ^ lb f / i n ^ lb inches

(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
43 14100 181 6690 2270 54

(43) (97) (1249) (46.2) (1030) (1370)
Movement liys? ,3? - Shrinkage from green to oven dry is 5 . 1 % radially and 7.9% tangentially.
STRUCTURE O F T H E W O O D :
Growth rings - Distinct, visible with the naked eye, delimited by a dense, nearly black.
Vessels -stiiî^-s T ' , - Very large to medium-sized or small, the orifices o f the larger visible with
the naked eye, rather distant and unevenly distributed, inserted in the concentric
bands o f parenchyma or rarely in the fibrous bands, open or plugged with
reddish-brown or nearly black gum or with chalky deposits, forming rather
conspicuous but distant vessel lines along the grain containing dark gummy
deposits or chalky deposits, the majority solitary and in radial rows of 2-4,
less commonly in longer rows or several nested ; perforations simple
113
horizontal or nearly so ; pits leading to contiguous vessels orbicular to oval
or elliptical, with medium wide border and lenticular orifice, with 'sieve-like'
membrane, sometimes confluent ; pits leading to ray parenchyma several
to each cell and frequently in horizontal rows, oval to elliptical, with wide
border and linear orifice, with 'sieve-like' membrane, not confluent ; tyloses
wanting ; reddish-brown or nearly black gummy deposits, frequent, occluding
segments and in perietal lumps.
- Paratracheal, paratracheal-zonate, terminal and metatracheal, in cambiform

rows o f 4 units along the grain storied with the vessel segments and wood
rays or further divided into series o f locules containing solitary crystals ;
(a) paratracheal parenchyma scanty, forming a narrow, 1-3 seriate sheath
which is interrupted by rays and occasionally by fibres contiguous to the
vessel ; cells peripherally flattened ; (b) paratracheal-zonate parenchyma
visible with the naked eye, forming concentric, wavy, even-margined bands
which alternate with bands o f fibrous tissue o f somewhat greater width and
are mostly continuous but occasionally fork or end blindly ; cells aligned in
radial rows, generally oval and tangentially orientated ; (c) terminal
parenchyma forming a 1-several (generally 2-3) seriate band which is narrower
and usually straighter than the last band o f paratracheal-zonate paratrachyma
but is often confluent with it at intervals ; on the outer side the 'c' parenchyma
is bounded by a broad band fibrous tissue quite free o f vessels which, as
here interpreted, is the inner portion o f the succeeding ring ; cells o f 'c'
parenchyma similar to those o f the 'c' parenchyma but smaller and more
frequently crystalliferous ; (d) matatracheal parenchyma sparse, scattered
in the broad concentric bands o f fibrous tissue ; reddish-brown gummy
infiltration relatively sparse in the parenchyma, occluding occasional cells ;
crystals frequent in the marginal cells o f the ' b ' and in the 'c' and ' d '
parenchyma ; starch deposits not observed.
- L i b r i f o r m , medium fine, rounded in the transverse section and exhibiting

layers o f stratification, not aligned in radial rows, arranged in broad,
concentric, mostly continuous, wavy, even-margined bands which alternate
with narrower bands o f parenchyma and with these form the ground mass
of the wood non-septate, non-geltinous ; inter-fibre pits minute, slit-like,
nearly vertical ; lumina minute, occasionally plugged with deposits o f gum.
- Not visible with the naked eye, fine, medium close, separated by 2-5 rows
of parenchyma, storied with the "vessel segments and cambiform rows of
parenchyma and forming an inconspicuous but very regular fleck on the
radial surface ; pits leading to contiguous vessels several to each cell and
frequently in horizontal rows, with wide border and linear orifice, with
'sieve-Hke' membrane ; reddish-brown gummy infiltration very sparse,
occluding occasional cells ; crystals wanting.
- Present, barely discernible with the naked eye.
- Seasons well, but liable to develop fine hair surface checks. Very drying
schedule is suggested.
WORKING PROPERTIES - Exceptionally hard on saws but moulds well on machines without tearing
and requires no hand finishing. Hard on cutters in machines but works to
a smooth finish. Cutting in the tangential direction gives very attractive
alternate darker and lighter bands.
POLISHING - Takes a very high polish either waxed or oiled.

AND
STAINING
DURABILITY - Extremely durable and rarely attacked by insects. Very resistant to

AND preservative treatment.
PRESERVATION
USES - Good for heavy construction like bridges and residential buildings. A very
handsome ornamental wood for veneering. Makes beautiful carvings, turnings
ornamental panels and furniture. Excellent wood for agricultural implements,
joinery work, ornamental flooring and cabinet making.
115
THITKA/KASHIT
11
. ih'Qtf TAl -hi -ir. '.^ KSWl?.
THITKA / KASHIT
BOTANICAL NAME ' ' Pentace burmanica Kurz.
FAMILY -^^^ - Tiliaceae
VERNACULAR NAME - Thitka, Kashit (Myanmar) ; Si-siat-pluak (Thailand) ; Takalis (N. Borneo)
(Myanma Mahogany) (United Kingdom). Melunak (Malaysia) Thitka /
Melunak (Standard).
THE TREE - Grows to a height of 30 m (100 ft) and a girth of 2.4 m (8 ft). Clean and
cylindrical bole of 7.5-9.0 m (25-30 ft) is often found. Occurs in evergreen
and tropical hill forests of Myanmar. .!,!
Colour - A handsome wood resembling true mahogany. Colour varies from golden
brown to reddish brown, turning darker on exposure. Sapwood and heartwood
not clearly defined. Generally free from knots and blemishes.
Grain sjcfumjm s ni ,3<r - Interlocked, producing a narrow regular stripe or rosy figure on quarter
sawn faces. Moderately fine and even texture.
Specific gravity - 0.558 green and 0.573 air dry. Moderately heavy, 768 kg/m' (48 lb/ft')
Strength rovrnmusnv.o - Fairly strong and moderately hard.
^ it} mUiiS) r
Compression

(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
37.0 10845 1487 5790 1040 33

(37.0) (75) (10260) (40.0) (472) (838)
13.9 12680 1503 6935 1150 37
(13.9) (87) (10371) (47.9) (522) (940)
Movement - Considerable. Shrinkage from green to oven dry is 3.1% radially and 6.5%
tangentially. , ,.
STRUCTURE OF T H E WOOD
Growth rings - Faint, narrow, delimited by darker bands o f denser fibrous tissue.
Vessels - Medium sized, not distinct with the naked eye, partly occluded with tyloses,
forming plainly visible vessel lines along the grain which glisten (not gummy
"cfis'fiffn inclusions) by reflected light, solitary or in radial rows o f 2-10 (mostly 2-3)
or rarely nested, evenly distributed and but slightly smaller in the outer portiion
of the ring ; vessels cylindrical, truncate, or rarely tailed at one end, storied ;
perforations simple, nearly horizontal ; pits leading to contiguous vessels
minute, very numerous, sometimes confluent, with narrow borders and
rounded (punctate) orifices ; pits leading to parenchyma similar to the above
but small or, through fusion, linear and then several generally parallel
horizontally or vertically, with narrow inconspicuous borders ; tyloses
common, large, thin-walled, in uniseriate longitudinal rows ; gummy deposits
not observed.
Parenchyma - Visible with hand-lens, paratracheal, metatracheal and terminal, in

cambiform rows o f 2-5 (mostly 2-4) cells which are storied with the other
elements ; (a) paratracheal parenchyma sparse, in an interrupted uniseriate
row, peripherally flattened ; (b) metatracheal parenchyma very abundant,
seemingly occupying half the space between the vessels and rays, (1) in short
uniseriate tangential lines which connect rays but seldom cross them or lines
which end blindly, and (2) scattered ; tangential lines o f parenchyma
separated by 2-several fibres ; cells flattened tangentially ; (c) terminal
parenchyma forming a faint, mostly uniseriate, sometimes interrupted line ;
cells similar to the ' b ' parenchyma. Reddish-brown gummy organic infiltration
very frequent ; crystals not observed.
Substitute Hbres - Occasional, resulting from the failure o f cambiform initials to divide by
cross-walls, similar to the metatracheal parenchyma in transverse dimensions.
Fibres LJ""'^*^ - Non-libriform, fine ; pits minute, oblique.
Rays ill df - Not distinct with the naked eye, fine, darker than the background and
forming inconspicuous, even, interrupted (interlocked grain), horizontal bands
on the radial surface, conspicuously storied 1-4 seriate, heterogeneous ;
0*0! crystals absent ; reddish, brown gummy organic infiltration copious.
(ST*
Ripple marks Ocfi - Conspicuous, plainly visible with the naked eye, 22-26 per cm, the elements
of the woQd storied.
f mm Its? f^KtAJn \ * - ;
SEASONING " - Non-refractory. A i r seasons slowly without undue degrade. Proper stacking
and protection required. Slow i n kiln seasoning and care needed to lessen
warping and checking. V5;t;i;g;mi
WORKING PROPERTIES - Works with moderate ease by hand and machine tools. Clean finish obtained
in most operations, but picking up occurs in planing cross grained, quartei
sawn material. Fairly good in nailing and screwing properties. Thirty percent
more resistant to cutting than American mahogany and a proportionate
dulling effect on cutting edges.
120
POLISHING - Takes stains and polishes well to a high lustrous finish.
AND
STAINING
DURABILITY - Very durable under cover and resistant to, but not immune from termites.
AND Readily attacked by marine borers. Resistant to preservative treatment.
PRESERVATION
- A good quality timber for decorative applications. Used for high quality
USES
furniture, boat building, walking sticks and mathematical instruments.
Suitable for panelUng and flooring. Good for decorative interior finish and
cabinets.
121
THITKADO
Cedrela toona Ro xb.

THITKADO
BOTANICAL NAME * - Cedrela toona Roxb.
FAMILY - Meliaceae ' ' ' ' "
- Thitkado (Myanmar), Toon (India, Pakistan) Yomham (Thailand),

Surian/Soeren (Indonesia) Surea Bawang (Malaysia), (Mawlamyaing Cedar/
VERNACULAR NAME
Myanma Cedar) ( U K / U S A ) , Suren (Standard).
- A medium size tree, 30 m (100 ft) in height and 2.4 m (8 ft) in girth with a
cylindrical straight bole o f 9-12 m (30-40 ft). Occurs in the lower elevations
THE T R E E scattered through the evergreen and moist mixed deciduous forests of Myanmar.
WOOD P R O P E R T I E S '
Colour - Light brick red when first exposed, darkening on exposure to reddish brown,
usually with darker streaks on the radial surface. Somewhat lustrous, with
dry feel, fragrant cedary scent and distinct acrid taste. Sapwood pinkish
white to yellowish-brown, sharply defined from heartwood.
' -un .wujugijBoa-sites
Grain - Generally straight to slightly interlocked, coarse and uneven texture as

structure is semi-ring porous to porous.
Specific gravity M - 0.474 green and 0.498 air dry. Light to moderately heavy, 784 k g / m
(49 Ib/ft^) green and 576 kg/m^ (36 Ib/ft^) air dry.
Strength - Soft to moderately hard and moderately strong.
Compression
m lb f / i n ^ 1000 lb V\r? lb f / i n ^ lb inches

(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
65.1 8290 1248 4290 765 24

(65.1) (57) (8611) (29.6) (347) (610)
14.8 11859 1551 6485 880 23
(14.8) (82) (10700) (44.7) (399) (584)
Movement - Considerable. Shrinkage from green to oven dry is 3.8% radially and 6.3%
tangentially.
m
S T R U C T U R E OF T H E WOOD :
i
Growth rings - Distinct but not conspicuous, the porous zones forming daricer stripes on
the radial surface.
Vessels - Not appreciably larger in the inner portion o f the ring, but more numerous
forming a porous zone which appears as a dark stripe on the radial surface ;
v,;;;>, .-rjs-; ilf,^^
vessel segments short, rather thin-walled, truncate, abruptly or attenuate-
tailed on one or both ends ; perforations simple, nearly horizontal to oblique,
sometimes plugged with gum ; pits leading to contiguous vessels numerous,
orbicular to elliptical, with broad border and linear-lenticular orifices ; pits
leading to parenchyma numerous to each parenchyma cell, oribicular to
elliptical, with narrow border and nearly horizontal, linear-lenticular orifice,
rarely confluent ; tyloses absent ; deposits o f reddish-brown gum frequent,
forming plugs occluding the perforations and parietal ; chalky deposits
occasional.
fi; it;' >;J *KiHOqX:j
- Paratracheal and metatracheal, in cambiform rows ; (a) paratracheal

parenchyma relatively scanty, not visible without a hand-lens, (b) metatracheal
Parenchyma ; sviii parenchyma abundant, diffused or several cells contiguous, most frequent
on the outer face o f the preceding ring ; reddish-brown gummy infiltration
common ; crystals frequent in the ' b ' parenchyma, in catenaterows along
the grain.
STUJiisa' Vi'i~iV.:tiX bos
Fibres - Non-Ubriform, rather coarse, in radial rows whose alignment is distorted
by the larger vessels, non-septate, inter-fibre pits confined to the radial walls,
minute, with narrow border and nearly vertical, linear orifice ; reddish-brown
gummy deposits usually present, often occluding the lumen.
Rays - Visible with the naked eye, narrow, o f nearly the same colour as the back-
ground and relatively conspicuous on the radial surface, heterogeneous to
nearly homogeneous ; pits leading to vessels numerous to each parenchyma
xasiitnei: cell, orbicular to elliptical, rarely confluent small reddish-border and nearly
;isrDs;i.: horizontal linear lenticular orifice, rarely confluent ; small reddish-brown,
i ^ ~ globular, gummy deposits frequent ; crystals occasional, solitary in the ray cells.
> .
- Occasionally present, lysigenous, tangentially elongated, flattened, with
I Gum canals
reddish-brown gummy deposits.
SEASONING - Semi-refractory. Care needed in air seasoning as it is liable to surface

checking and end splitting and has a tendency to wrap and twist. Kiln seasons
mi
fairly rapidly and satisfactorily with little degrade, though apt to collapse
near knots. Surface checking is not serious.
WORKING PROPERTIES - Saws and works easily, but inclined to be woolly. Nails, screws and glues
well. Carves and peels satisfactorily.
POLISHING - Takes a good finish and fine polish.

AND
STAINING
m
- Durable under cover. Not durable i n exposed condition. Moderately resistant
to decay and termites. Readily treatable with preservatives.
- Popular for cigar wrappers and cigarette and cigar boxes because it protects
and mellows the contents. Extensively used for tea chests and household
boxes. Good for interior joinery, cabinet work and furniture. Also used in
house construction, for boarding, doors, panels, frames and-windows.
Moderately ornamental and suitable for carvings, pattern making, musical
instruments and blinds. Makes good veneer, screens, pictures frames, toys
and brush backs. I n boat building, used for planking, skins o f racing boats,
decks o f canoes.
127
THITYA
Shorea oblongifolia Thw.

THITYA
BOTANICAL NAME - Shorea oblongifolia Thw. Syn. S. obtusa W a l l , vjir is* t;: Iw
VERNACULAR NAME - Thitya (Myanmar), Teng (Thailand), Ca-chac (Vietnam), Phchek (Cambodia)
-, i Myanmar Sal (India), Balau (Malaysia, Indonesia). Yellow Balau (Standard)
THE T R E E - Attains 24 m (80 ft) in height and a girth o f 3 m (10 ft). Occurs in the lower
hill forests o f Myanmar. Often associated with Ingyin (Pentacme siamensis)
in the drier forests and marketed together as Thitya-Ingyin.
WOOD P R O P E R T I E S ,
, Colour , , , - Brown, dark brown becoming dark reddish brown with age. Often with
darker markings with light tangential lines at irregular intervals ; dull, without
distinct odour or taste. Sapwood brownish white and narrow.
Grain - Interlocked in narrow bands, even and medium texture.
Specific gravity - 0.858 green and 0.933 air dry. Very heavy, 35 kg/m^ (78 Ib/ft^) green and
29 kg/m^ (64 Ib/ft^) air dry.
strength , r j - Hard and strong.
Compression
content strength Elasticity grain (Radial) Max. drop

(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
46.3 14305 2339 8220 1865 46

(46.3) (99) (16140) (56.7) (847) (1168)
10.6 22955 2816 11010 2075 44
(10.6) (158) (19430) (76.0) (942) (1117)
Growth rings - Absent or scarcely distinct ; when present, delimited by a band o f fibrous
tissue in the outer portion o f the ring quite free o f vessels.
Vessels ^îlj - Large to medium sized, those o f the heartwood occluded with tyloses and
appearing light brown punctate with the naked eye in the transverse section,
exhibiting little or no variation in size indicative o f seasonal increments,
frequently with contiguous rays, forming relatively fine vessel lines along
the grain occluded with tyloses, the majority solitary or paired, occasionally
several contiguous, quite evenly distributed except in the extreme outer
portion o f the ring ; vessel segments short, thick-walled truncate or abruptly
short-tailed, horizontal or nearly so ; inter-vessel pits numerous, small, oval
to orbicular, with wide border and linear-lenticular orifice, occasionally
confluent, pits leading to contiguous rays several to each ray cell, rounded
and variable in shape, with broad orifice with or without narrow semi-
-'JVVOi Sir ;H i-yr border ; tyloses very abundant, occluding all vessels in the heartwood,
iîl'ff
medium thick-walled, with simple pits.
Tracheitis - Sparse, paratracheal, intermingled with parenchyma and difficult to

distinguish in the transverse section, with numerous small, oval or orbicular pits.
Parenchyma - Paratracheal, paratracheal-zonate, metatracheal, and surrounding all resin

canals, in cambiform rows o f usually 4 units along the grain which are
sometimes divided further into locules containing solitary crystals ; (a)
paratracheal parenchyma abundant, intermingled with tracheids and forming
a several seriate sheath or ragged tract about the vessels or vessel groups
which is interrupted by rays or rarely by fibres contiguous to the vessel,
frequently with several to many seriate, ragged, lateral extensions which
\di ^V? -in ^ are confluent with adjacent rays or unite with extensions from neighbouring
vessels as (b) paratracheal-zonate parenchyma but never form concentric
bands ; (c) Metatracheal parenchyma very abundant, scattered and in short,
tangential, usually uniseriate rows which end blindly or unite wood rays ; cells
generally angular and tangentially flattened, (d) parenchyma surrounding resin
canals forming 6-8 seriate concentric bands which occur at irregular and
often distant intervals and extend long distances tangentially ; cells arranged
in radial rows, generally tangentially flattened ; gummy infiltration copious,
dark reddish-brown ; crystals frequent in the marginal cells of the 'a' and
in the ' b ' and 'c' parenchyma starch deposits not observed. 1'^
4^
Fibres - L i b r i f o r m , fine, rounded in the transverse section and not aligned in radial
rows ; nonseptate, inter-fibre pits simple, with slit-like, nearly vertical
or*- orifice ; lumina frequently plugged with reddish-brown gummy infiltration.
Rays - Not visible with the naked eye, fine, medium close, separated by 5-15 fibres,
of the same colour as the background forming an inconspicuous fleck on
the radial surface, 1-6 (Mostly 3-5) seriate, nearly homogeneous ; pits leading
to contiguous vessels several to each ray cell, rounded and variable in shape,
with broad orifice with or without narrow semi-border ; reddish-brown gummy
infiltration copious in the ray cells ; crystals wanting ; starch deposits not
observed.
Resin canals - Present, longitudinal, embedded in parenchyma, solitary or 2-several

contiguous, zonate in uniseriate tangential rows at irregular and often distant
intervals, appearing as light lines with the naked eye that extend relatively
long distances transversely and for indefinite distances along the grain ;
epithelium forming a single layer, thin-walled, the cells arching into the canal
cavity ; canal orifices rounded, variable in size ; contents white.
132
TINYU
Pinus insularis Endl

TINYU '
BOTANICAL NAME - Pinus insularis Endl. Syn p. Khasya Royle.
FAMILY - Pinaceae > - .
- Tinyu, Nha Khwa Tinyu (Myanmar) Khasya pine (India/Assam) Son

(Thailand), Benguet Pine, Saleng (Philippines). ( K H A S I P I N E ) ( U K / U S A )
VERNACULAR NAME Thong, Tinyu (Standard)
- A large tree 30 m (80-100 ft) in height and 1.8-2.1 m (6-7 ft) in girth. Occurs
either in mixed or gregarious forests in the Shan States, Chin Hills and
THE TREE
Chindwin Hills. Often grouped with another indigenous pine, namely Pinus
merkusii in practice.
WOOD P R O P E R T I E S
Colour - Light reddish brown to pale brown, turning darker on exposure, with darker
stripe in radial section or mottling in tangential section. Conspicuous dark
lines (resin canals) along the grain. Dull to lustrous, resinous odour when
freshly cut with faint resinous taste. Sapwood whitish to creamy white.
Grain i_-.;!-...r- - Fairly straight, more or less even grained. Medium coarse texture.
Specific gravity - 0.53 air dry. Medium weight, 910 k g / m ^ (57 Ib/ft^) green and 580 kg/m^
(36 Ib/ft^) air dry.
strength - Fairly hard.
Compression
(%) lb f / i n ^ 1000 lb f / i n ^ lb f/ii? lb inches

(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
62 6559 1278 2889 531 N. A.

(62) (45) (8818) (20.0) (241) (-)
12.8 11467 1678 6184 776 (N. A . )
(12.8) (79) (11578) (42.7) (352) (-)
Growth rings - Distinct, delineated by a dark, narrow band of denser summerwood, very
variable in width according to site.
137
Tracheids - Medium coarse, arranged in radial rows ; springwood tracheids variable
in size in the transverse section, squarish to rectangular or somewhat
hexagonal, in more or less irregular radial rows, with radial diameter often
surpassing the tangential diameter ; intercellular spaces sometimes present ;
transition from springwood to summerwood gradual ; summerwood tracheids
comparable in shape to those o f the springwood but much thicker-walled
and narrower lumened (those near the outer margin o f the ring rectangular
or tabular), without intercellular spaces ; bordered pits in one row o f
frequently paired on the radial walls o f the springwood tracheids ; tangential
z\in',0 .Arm i-iu ' pitting lacking in the last few o f summerwood tracheids.
\ ::n I
Parenchyma - The epithelial cells encircling the resin canals are not interpreted as true
longitudinal parenchyma.
Rays - Not distinct with the naked eye, very fine, unevenly distributed and some-
times rather distant, with ray tracheids o f two sorts : (a) narrow rays much
more numerous than the broader rays, uniseriate, 1-21 (av.8) cells ;
(b) broader rays sparse, fusiform but otherwise comparable to the uniseriate
rays, with horizontal resin canals ; ray tracheids in horizontal rows marginal
and frequently interspersed as well ; marginal tracheids in 1-3 (mostly 1-2)
rows ; pits leading from ray parenchyma to longitudinal tracheids 1-2 (rarely
.ivnr.'it 3) per tracheid, narrowly semi-bordered, more or less angled and window-like
in the springwood, becoming lenticular, reduced to one, and steeply oblique
in the summerwood ; ray parenchyma with protoplasts in the sapwood ;
^rA-,.^ US? hut; u s a t a " ? ray tracheids empty. , ,,.,,, ^
Resin - Canals present, longitudinal and transverse, with thin-walled epitheli-

um ; (a) longitudinal resin canals irregularly distributed and confined for the
most part to the middle and outer portions o f the ring, solitary or rarely
two contiguous in the tangential plane ; epithelium 1-3 cells thick ; canal
orifices ; (b) transverse canals comparable to the longitudinal canals but
smaller, solitary, inserted in the fusiform wood rays ; epithelium 1-2 cells
thick ; canal orifices.
SEASONING - Seasons well. Immediate open stacking o f the green converted material is
suggested as the best method o f air seasoning. Kiln seasons well except resin
is Uable to exude on the surface during the process. End splitting occurs to
a certain extent but not serious. Measures should be taken to prevent blue stain.
WORKING PROPERTIES - Easy to saw and machine though resin clogs the saw teeth occasionally.
Works to a fine finish.
POLISHING " - Takes a good polish

AND
STAINING
DURABILITY - Durable under cover. Very susceptible to attack by termites. Should be easily
AND ^ treatable with preservatives.
PRESERVATION
USES -Used for buildings, furniture and packing cases. Good for tongued and
grooved boards. First class pulpwood.
YEMANE
Cross section (X 10) Cross section (x 50)

YEMANE
BOTANICAL NAME - Gmelina arborea L i n n .

J Is.
FAMILY - Verbmaceae
VERNACULAR NAME - Yemane (Myanmar) Gumari, Gumhar, Gumhu, Gamari Sewan (India),
Saw, Sor (Thailand) Yemane/Gumhar (standard)
THE T R E E , - S< - A moderate to large tree, 30 m (100 ft) in height and 1.8-2.4 m (6-8 ft)
,. ' .a , in girth. Occurs in the moister forests throughout Myanmar.
Colour - Yellowish, greyish or reddish white when first exposed, turning light russet
or yellowish brown with age. Heartwood not distinct. Lustrous with a smooth,
oily feel. Without characteristic smell or taste.
Grain ''"^'<---- - ' - Straight to shallowly interlocked grain and medium texture.
Specific gravity ,^ ,1 - 0.419 green and 0.432 air dry. Moderately heavy, 1056 kg/m^ (66 Ib/ft^)
Strength - Moderately hard, but distinctly strong and elastic.
Compression

(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
151 6940 1118 3300 755 21

(151) (48) (7714) (22.8) (343) (533)
12 9375 1287 4850 490 44
(12) (65) (8880) (33.5) (222) (1118)
Movement < - l-i'-',- - Shrinkage from green to oven dry is 2.4% radially and 4.9% tangentially.
STRUCTURE O F T H E W O O D : "ismHi^
^ Growth rings , . ^ d.: ' Distinct and fairly conspicuous, delimited by a light zone o f larger and more
, , ^ ..>; numerous pores in the springwood (wood more or less ring-porous).
Vessels W- . " ^^^^ '^""S^ medium-sized and very small, occluded with tyloses and
appearing light brown punctate with the naked eye, frequently with contiguous
rays, forming fairly conspicuous vessel lines along the grain which are filled
with tyloses ; perforations simple, nearly horizontal to oblique ; inter-vessel
pits numerous, orbicular or polygonal through crowding, with broad border
and short lenticular orifice : pits leading to contiguous rays numerous to
each ray cell, orbicular to oval, simple or with narrow semi-border ; tyloses
very abundant, occluding most o f the vessels thin-walled, reliculately marked
with numerous elongated simple pits, rarely with yellow gummy deposits.
- Paratracheal, paratracheal-zonate, and metatracheal, in cambiform rows
of 2-4 (mostly 4) units or, where contiguous to the vessels o f more than 4
units along the grain ; (a) paratracheal parenchyma fairly abundant, forming
a narrow, 1-several seriate sheath and forming a narrow, 1-several seriate
sheath and in most cases restricted to the immediate vicinity the vessels and
vessels groups, rarely passing over lateral into (b) paratracheal-zonate
parenchyma which adjacent vessels but never forms concentric bands ; at
the inception o f the ring, the tendency toward the formation of paratracheal-
zonate parenchyma is greater than elsewhere and often results in a more or
less well defined band which simulates terminal parenchyma as of the preceding
ring ; cells o f 'a' parenchyma flattened where contiguous to the vessel wall ;
cells more remote from the vessels ('a' or ' b ' parenchyma) strongly angled,
not appreciably flattened ; (c) metatracheal parenchyma extremely sparse,
restricted to occasional cells in the fibrous tracts and difficult to distinguish
from the thin-walled fibres in the transverse section ; cells o f 'c' parenchyma
strongly angled ; yellow, gummy infiltration sparse in all types of
parenchyma ; crystals not observed ; starch deposits occasional in the outer
rmgs. ^^.^^ .b-tiiti v'-:.^-(-;^h'yi-A ^\-^9:fnr:
- Non-libriform, coarse, strongly angled in the transverse section and not

arranged in definite radial rows, seldom contiguous to the vessels, generally
somewhat thicker-walled near the outer margin of the ring, non-gelatinous,
septate, with long tapering ends ; inter-fibre pits numerous, confined to the
radial walls, simple, with short, slit-like, steeply oblique orifices ; fibre lumina
- Distinct with the naked eye, medium-fine, frequently contiguous to the vessels
of the same colour as the background forming a fine, fairly conspicuous
fieck on the radial surface, 1-5 seriate, somewhat heterogeneous ; pits leading
to contiguous vessels numerous to each ray cell, orbicular to oval, simple or
with narrow semi-border ; yellow or brownish-yellow gummy infiltration
sparse in the ray tissue ; crystals not observed ; starch deposits occasional
in the outer rings.
- Extremely easy to air season. I f properly stacked for air seasoning it usuall>
dries well with practically no degrade. Kiln seasons satisfactory with limited
splitting and warping.
- Saws and works well to a fairly smooth finish. Turns and planes to a smooti
surface and is a first class workshop wood. Carves and peels well.
- Takes a high, lustrous finish. Stains and polishes well.

- Moderately durable except in contact with ground. Not proof against white
ants or marine borers. Durable both under cover and in water.
Extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
- Good for furniture and cabinets, boat decking and oars ; figured timber
for interior panelling, finish work and carving. Good for sounding boards
for musical instruments, printing blocks and pattern work. A good
construction timber, especially for door frames, weather boarding and
flooring. Makes good utility plywood.
\
YINDAIK
Dalbergia cultrata Grah.

YINDAIK
BOTANICAL NAME - Dalbergia cultrata Grah. - -
FAMILY - Papilionaccae
VERNACULAR NAME - Yindaik (Myanmar), (Myanma Blackwood, Indian Cocobolo).
THE T R E E - Small to medium tree of the plains and lower hill forests of Myanmar. Rarely
exceeds 18 m (60 ft) in height and 1.5 m (5 ft) in girth. Trunk usually fluted
and timber often shaken internally.
Colour - Brown with purplish or black streaks, with long, fine, parallel, yellowish
brown lines. D u l l , fragrant smell when first exposed, without distinct taste.
Resembles ebony. Sapwood is pale brown.
Grain - Fairly straight grain, medium to coarse texture.
Specific gravity f i ai:i - 0.91 green and 1.14 air dry. Extremely heavy 1120 kg/m^ (70 Ib/ft^) green
Strength ; ^n.f îv ;;,gf Extremely hard, tough and strong.-^
Compression

(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
50 11400 1600 5100 1770 61

(50) (79) (11040) (35.2) (804) (1549)
Movement ' - Shrinkage from green to oven dry is 5.5% radially and 9.2% tangentially.
STRUCTURE OF T H E WOOD : ; ^ k
Growth rings - Not distinct
Vessels - Very variable in size, but exhibiting no zonation indicative o f growth rings,
very large to medium sized or small, often rather distant and unevenly
distributed, the orifices of the larger plainly visible with the naked eye, for
the most inserted in wavy concentric bands of parenchyma, frequently with
; = i ; contiguous rays, open or occluded with brown or brownish-black gum ;
; i 1 - vessel segments short, storied with the cambiform rows of parenchyma,
substitute fibres, and wood rays, medium thick-walled, truncate ; perforations
147
simple, horizontal to somewhat oblique ; pits leading to contiguous vessels
not crowded oval to elliptical, with broad border and lenticular orifice reaching
nearly to the margin of the pit cavity, with 'sieve-like' membrane, commonly
confluent ; pits leading to the longitudinal or ray parenchyma numerous to
each cell, elliptical and usually obliquely aligned, with narrow border and
lenticular orifice, with 'sieve-like' membrane, occasionally confluent ;
deposits of brown or brownish-black gum frequent, in parietal lumps and
occluding vessel segments. , -
- Paratracheal, paratracheal-zonate, and metatracheal in cambiform rows,

storied with the vessel segments, substitute fibres, and wood rays, the rows
frequently, divided further into crystal locules (often 8) along the grain ;
(a) paratracheal parenchyma relatively abundant ; (b) paratracheal-zonate
parenchyma very abundant, visible with the naked eye, forming wavy
concentric bands which alternate with bands o f fibrous tissue, vary greatly
in width individually and at different places in the wood, occasionally fork,
but rarely end blindly ; (c) metatracheal parenchyma very sparse, mainly
restricted to the margins of the zones of fibrous tissue ; deep brown or
brownish-black gummy deposits not copious, confined to occasional cells ;
crystals abundant in the marginal cells of the ' b ' parenchyma, and in the
'c' parenchyma, solitary in series of locules (often 8) along the grain ; starch
deposits present in the sapwood. - . =
- Occasional in the bands o f paratracheal-zonate parenchyma, storied with

the vessel segments.
- Semi-libriform to libriform, medium coarse, round of angled in the

transverse section and not aligned in radial rows, arranged in wavy concentric
bands of varying width which alternate with, and are for the most part wider
than, the bands of parenchyma, non-septate, frequently gelatinous ; inter-
fibrepits simple, slit-like, relatively sparse, and mostly confined to the radial
walls ; lumina frequently occluded with brown or brownish-black gummy
infiltration. * ^ i i
- Not visible with the naked eye, fine, close, straight or nearly so, brown,
lighter than the background and forming a low inconspicuous fleck on the
radial surface, storied with the vessel segments, cambiform rows of
parenchyma and substitute fibres, forming ripple marks on the tangential
surface, 1-4 (mostly 1-3) seriate, homogeneous or nearly so, divisible into
two sorts on the basis of height ; pits leading to contiguous vessels numerous
to each cell, elliptical, and usually obliquely aligned, with narrow border and
lenticular orifice, with 'sieve-like' membrane, occasionally confluent ; brown
or brownish-black gummy infiltration abundant but not copious occluding
some ray cells ; crystals wanting ; starch deposits present in the sapwood.
- Present, not distinct with the naked eye.
- Semi-refractory. A i r seasons with a tendency to split. Kiln seasons fairly

well but slowly. Considerable end splitting even during slow drying. End
coatmg is suggested.
YINMA
Chukmsia talrularis A. Juss

YINMA
BOTANICAL NAME - Chukrasia tabularis A . Juss.
FAMILY - Meliaceae
- Yinma (Myanmar) Chittagong Wood ( U . K ) Chickrassy (India, Pakistan)

VERNACULAR NAME Lat hoa (Vietnam) Sietka (Thailand).
- A tall, long stemmed tree. Height 25 m (80 ft) with a clean straight cylindrical
THE TREE bole of 9 m (30 ft) and a girth of 2.4-2.7 m (8-9 ft). Occurs in the nothern
and south-eastern parts of the country. . ,
WOOD DESCRIPTION - A n attractive wood fragrant when fresh, light yellowish brown with a
reddish tinge, darkening to reddish brown or golden mahogany brown, with
a beautiful satin sheen. Sometimes there is a delicate fiddle figure. Plain sawn
timber shows an attractive growth ring figure. Sapwood pale yellowish or
brownish, not well defined from heartwood.
Grain - Often irregular, wavy or shallowly interlocked. Moderately fine and even
texture.
, Specific gravity - 0.57 green and 0.59 air dry. Weight moderate 850 kg/m^ (53 Ib/ft^) green
Strength - Moderately hard and strong.
Compression
m lb f / i n ^ 1000 lb f/ir? lb f / i n ^ lb inches

(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
56 10700 1480 5580 980 30

(56) (74) (10212) (38.0) (445) (762)
13 11900 1570 6870 1250 36
(13) (82) (10833) (47.4) (568) (914)
Movement ^ - - Small. Shrikage from green to oven dry is 4.0% radially and 6.3%
a- u tangentially.
STRUCTURE OF T H E WOOD
Growth rings - Discernible with the naked eye but not conspicuous, delimited by narrow
light Hnes o f terminal parenchyma and sometimes by denser fibrous tissue
* in the outer (not terminal) portion o f the ring.
Vessels - Small to medium-sized, the largest near the inner third of the ring, the
smallest in the outer part o f the ring, and somewhat smaller in the early
springwood, the orifices scarcely distinguishable with the naked eye, open
or occluded with yellowish-white deposits, forming relatively inconspicuous
broken (radial surface) or wavy (tangential surface) vessel lines along the
grain, for the most part solitary or in radial rows of 2-3, occasionally several
nested, quite evenly distributed ; perforations simple, nearly horizontal to
somewhat oblique, frequently plugged with pale yellowish-white granular
deposits ; pits leading to contiguous vessels numerous, narrowly elliptical ;
pits leading to ray parenchyma many to each parenchyma cell, narrowly oval
to elliptical, with evident border and linear-lenticular orific, not confluent,
tyloses absent ; pale yellowish-white granular deposits not infrequent. .
Parenchyma - Terminal, paratracheal, and metatracheal ; (a) terminal parenchyma visible

with the naked eye, forming a well-defined, continuous, 2-5 (mostly 3-4)
seriate, pale brown, narrow line ; cells squarish to rectangular and then
tangentially aligned ; (b) paratracheal parenchyma very sparse, forming a
uniseriate, interrupted sheath, frequently but 2-3 cells to a vessel in evidence,
. ii :^ peripherally flattened ; (c) metatracheal parenchyma extremely sparse ;
scattered, light yellowish-brown gummy deposits frequent in all parenchyma
cells, occluding the cavities or in a parietal layer ; crystals rare. i\j.:t \
. , v r - Fibres '/tj 5>l OS* a j s i ' - Non-libriform to libriform in the outer (not terminal) portion of the ring,
, fine, forming extensive tracts between the vessels and the rays in which the
scanty diffuse parenchyma is embedded, much interlaced in the radial plane,
attenuate, occasionally septate, very variable in length ; iner-fibre pits
confined to the radial walls for the most part, with evident border and oblique
linear orific. i S
Rays i - Not distinct with the naked eye, fine, close, o f nearly uniform width, pale
greyish-brown and lighter than the fibrous tissue in the transverse section,
light reddish-brown, darker than the background, and forming a fine ray-
I fleck on the radial surface, obscurely storied, homogeneous or nearly so,
1-6 (mostly 3-4) seriate ; pits leading to vessels, many to each parenchyma
cell, narrowly oval to elliptical, with evident border and linear-lenticular orific,
light yellowish-brown gummy infiltration copious, occluding the cells or in
am parietal layers ; crystals not observed.
Ripple marks - Obscure, the rays exhibiting a tendency toward the storied condition.
SEASONING ' '- Seasons well even in large sections, but develops very fine hair surface
cracks which are noticeable after polishing especially in plywood. For air
seasoning the logs should be converted green and sawn stock carefully piled
in open stacks, under cover. Dries quite rapidly with slight tendency to check
and warp and some liability to collapse, though not severely. Should, be
seasoned slowly especially when o f irregular grain.
154
YON
Cross section (x 10) Cross section (x 50)
Anogeissus acuminata Wall

YON i tm isitem?
BOTANICAL NAME - Anogeissus acuminata Wall. '
FAMILY , ' - Comberetaceae.

A-jii-itx'l
VERNNACULAR NAME - Yon (Myanmar), Takien-nu (Thailand), Ram (Vietnam)
THE TREE - Grows to 30 m (100 ft) and 2.4-2.7 m (8-9 ft) girth. Straight cylindrical
bole of 9 m (30 ft) frequent. Very common in the moist deciduous forests
all over Myanmar. " . . .
Colour - Heartwood chocolate brown and small, irregular. Lustrous, with smooth
feel, without distinct odour or taste. Sapwood whitish grey to pale greenish-
grey, often with yellowish streaks or lighter grey bands, turning light greyish-
brown with age. fTi'f< sv^^.t, t saii^-J
Grain - Fairly straight to shallowly and irregularly interlocked. Texture moderately

fine and even.
TECHNICAL PROPERTIES xi
Specific gravity - 0.739 green and 0.784 air dry. Very heavy 990 kg/m' (63 lb/ft') green and
880 kg/m' (55 lb/ft') air dry.
Strength - Very hard, strong and elastic. Possesses excellent shock resistant properties.
Compression

(N/mm^) (N/mm^) (N/mm^) (Kg) (mm)
34.8 13140 1914 6570 1670 44

(34.8) (91) (132207) (45.3) (758) (1118)
13.4 19315 2174 9425 2400 47
(13.4) (133) (15000) (65.0) (1089) (1194)
STRUCTURE O F T H E WOOD :
Growth rings - Present but inconspicuous.
Vessels - Medium-sized to small or very small, appearing light punctate with the naked
eye, the largest distributed through the middle portion of the ring, grading
gradually to very small vessels in the outer portion of the ring, somewhat
smaller and less numerous in the early springwood, open, seemingly thick-
walled from encircling parenchyma, with contiguous rays on one or both sides,
forming fine close vessel lines along the grain ; pits leading to contiguous
rays numerous to each ray cell, with broad semi-border and short lenticular
orifice ; tyloses not observed (sapwood) ; gum inclusions wanting.
Parenchyma - Paratracheal, paratracheal-zonate, terminal, and metatracheal, in cambiform
rows of 4-8 units along the grain ;
(a) paratracheal parenchyma abundant ;
(b) paratracheal-zonate parenchyma and uniting 2-several adjacent groups of
vessels but never forming definite tangential bands ;
(c) terminal parenchyma forming a narrow, inconspicuous, sometimes
interrupted, undulate, more or less ragged ;
(d) metatracheal parenchyma fairly abundant, scattered through the tracts
ffÔonH ruiw.enotJzaJ isiaiEii; of dense fibrous tissue ; gummy infiltration scanty in all types of
AmtiTise m&q ol v'STg n?jtuiw i>oo-<te. parenchyma, light yellow ; crystals wanting ; starch deposits occasional.
-At .0ifn4 .ihmd vs-is
Fibres - Libriform, very fine, rounded in the transverse section and arranged in
-vis" radial rows, non-gelatinous, occasionally septate ;
Rays - Appearing fine with hand-lens, very close (15-18 per mm.), separated by
1-10 (mostly 3-8) fibres, of the same colour as the background forming a
fine, scarcely visible fleck on the radial surface, 1-3 (mostly 1-2) seriate,
heterogeneous ; gummy infiltration fairly abundant in the ray cells, light
yellow ; crystals frequent in the 'upright' cells, large, solitary, in horizontal
radial series across the grain starch deposits occasional.
SEASONING - Refractory and difficult to season owing to its tendency to wrap, split and
surface check. Care in air seasoning is required. Immediate stacking of green
converted material under cover, with protection on all four sides for slow
;r>i?b';H drying is suggested. Kiln seasoning presents no great difficulty. "^-^^ i
WORKING PROPERTIES - Hard and tough to saw when seasoned. Best to convert in green state.
Works with care to a smooth shiny, lustrous surface giving a pleasing
appearance. Turns and machines well with really sharp tools. ,
POLISHING r - Not recommended.
AND i tic:,
4'fxl
0*1 i
STAINING \ am MtVf
f - Fairly durable under cover but not durable in contact with the ground.
DURABILITY \ Not liable to stain. The heartwood is very difficult to treat but sapwood
AND - lends itself to preservative treatment.
PRESERVATION
is:
- Makes first class axe, hammer, and other tool handles ; a good alternative
USES to Ash. Used for constructional purposes, agricultural implements, shutters,
scaffolding for concrete buildings, and poles. Best suited for purposes where
strength with moderate durability is required.
160
References
Some Commercial timbers of Burma by Joint publication of Forest Research Institute, Yezin & Timber
Corporation, Rangoon (1980)
Malayan Timbers Equivalent Woods by P.K Balan Menon.
Tropical Timber Atlas, Part II ; Association Technique International Des Bois Tropicaux (ATIT)
Commercial Timbers of India, Vol : 1 & II by R.S. Pearson & H.B Brown. (1932)
Trees for Darwin and Nothern Australia by D.A. Hearne ; Forest and Timber Bureau. (1975)
Forest Resources of Myanmar, by Forest Department Myanmar (1991)
The Identification of Burma Commercial Timbers by K. Ahmad Chowdhury (1945)

Commercial Hardwood in Myanmar

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Commercial Hardwood in Myanmar

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IN

Dipterocarpus tuberculatus Roxb

Tracheids - Abundant, paratracheal, intermingled with parenchyma and usually

Grain - The grain is usually straight but, occasionally somewhat shallowly

Tracheids - Abundant, paratracheal, often peripherally flattened about the vessel,

- Moderately durable. Not resistant to attack by termites. Durable

- One of the most naturally durable timbers of the world. Practically

Fibres - Non-hbriform, in irregular, 1-3 seriate, tangential rows alternating

Ripple marks - Ripple marks present, traceable to storied rows of canibiiorm

BOTANICAL NAME - Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kurz.

Grain - Interlocked, producing a narrow ribbon figure, sometimes very beautifully

Cross section fx 10) Cross section fx 50)

Terminalia Chebula Retz.

Strength - A very hard, tough and strong timber.

Xylia dolabrifarmis Benth.

Michelia champaca Limi.

VERNACULAR NAME - Sagawa (Myanmar), Champ (India), Champapa (Thailand), Gioi, Su

Albizzia procera Benth.

Strength - A strong, elastic, tough and hard wood

N.A. = Not available

POLISHING - Takes an excellent polish but requires careful filling.

Tenninalia tomentosa Wight & Am.

Strength - A hard and strong timber.

VERNACULAR NAME - Taungtfiayet (Myanmar), Civit (Palcistan) Boilam (India), Kiian-thong

Grain - Straight grained and of even and rather coarse texture.

Strength - A soft but reasonably strong wood.

Fibres - Non-libriform, rather coarse, aligned in radial rows, gelatinous, those in

Strength - Hard, strong and elastic.

BOTANICAL N A M E i--' - Millettia pendula Benth. ' ^ r ' '

FAMILY * - Papilionaccae "'^ ; h' ;1

VERNACULAR NAME - Thinwin (Myanmar)

i Grain . - Straight or narrowly and shallowly interlocked, medium coarse texture.

Strength - Strong and very hard. -

(%) lb f / i n ^ 1000 lb f / i n ^ lb f / i n ^ lb inches

43 14100 181 6690 2270 54

- Paratracheal, paratracheal-zonate, terminal and metatracheal, in cambiform

- L i b r i f o r m , medium fine, rounded in the transverse section and exhibiting

- Present, barely discernible with the naked eye.

POLISHING - Takes a very high polish either waxed or oiled.

DURABILITY - Extremely durable and rarely attacked by insects. Very resistant to

BOTANICAL NAME ' ' Pentace burmanica Kurz.

FAMILY -^^^ - Tiliaceae

Strength rovrnmusnv.o - Fairly strong and moderately hard.

(%) lb f/in^ 1000 lb f/in^ lb f/in^ lb inches

37.0 10845 1487 5790 1040 33

Parenchyma - Visible with hand-lens, paratracheal, metatracheal and terminal, in

Fibres LJ""'^*^ - Non-libriform, fine ; pits minute, oblique.

Cedrela toona Ro xb.

BOTANICAL NAME * - Cedrela toona Roxb.

FAMILY - Meliaceae ' ' ' ' "

- Thitkado (Myanmar), Toon (India, Pakistan) Yomham (Thailand),

Grain - Generally straight to slightly interlocked, coarse and uneven texture as

Strength - Soft to moderately hard and moderately strong.

m lb f / i n ^ 1000 lb V\r? lb f / i n ^ lb inches

65.1 8290 1248 4290 765 24

- Paratracheal and metatracheal, in cambiform rows ; (a) paratracheal

SEASONING - Semi-refractory. Care needed in air seasoning as it is liable to surface

POLISHING - Takes a good finish and fine polish.

Shorea oblongifolia Thw.

Grain - Interlocked in narrow bands, even and medium texture.

strength , r j - Hard and strong.

(%) lb f / i n ^ 1000 lb f / i n ^ lb f / i n ^ lb inches

46.3 14305 2339 8220 1865 46

Tracheitis - Sparse, paratracheal, intermingled with parenchyma and difficult to