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Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants (Alnus) belonging to the birch family (Family Betulaceae). The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate zone, and in the New World also along the Andes southwards to Chile.
Alder leaves are deciduous (not evergreen), alternate, simple, and serrated. The flowers are catkins with elongate male catkins on the same plant as shorter female catkins, often before leaves appear; they are mainly wind-pollinated, but also visited by bees to a small extent. They differ from the birches (Betula, the other genus in the family) in that the female catkins are woody and do not disintegrate at maturity, opening to release the seeds in a similar manner to many conifer cones.
ALBIZIA FALCATARIA
Botanical Name ; Albizia falcataria (L.) Fosb.
Synonyms ; Albizia moluccana Miq., Albizia falcata (L.) Backer (in part) (also
spelled Albizziz).Common Names ; Molucca Albizia, Indonesia Albizia, White Albizia (English): Batai (Pen. Malaysia), Mara (Sri Lanka); Falkata, Moluccan sau
(Philippines); Kayu macis (Sarawak, Malaysia); Djeungdjing,
Sengon, Sengon laut (Indonesia); Tamalini (W. Samoa); Vaivai
(Fiji); Sau Paulo.
Legume Family ; Leguminosae (Mimosoideae)
Albizia falcataria, one of the fastest-growing trees in the world, is a fuel wood species for the humid tropics. It is a large deciduous tree with a thin, very broad crown of dull green foliage, bipinnately compound leaves with numerous small, oblong leaflets and narrow, flat brown pods that split open. It is widely planted in tropical countries and becoming naturalized.
This pioneer, light-requiring tree produces abundant seeds in lightweight pods blown by winds. It spreads into clearings and has become established in abandoned sugar cane fields in Hawaii and the tea plantations in Sri Lanka.
The tree stands as a windbreaker in the tea plantations in Sri Lanka
Growth records of this “miracle tree” on good soil and high rainfall are as much as 7m in height in little more than a year, 13-18m in 3 years, 21m in 4 years and 30m in 9-10 years. Then growth slows to a maximum of 45m and short life of about 25 years. In plots, the most vigorous trees increased in trunk diameter about 5-7cm per year. A height of 15m and diameter of 30cm have been attained after 4 years, in Hawaii. The state champion tree in Hawaii measured 33.6m high 9.1m in circumference at breast height and 50.9m in crown spread.
The trees coppice vigorously and can be harvested in plantations on an 8 year cycle from coppice growth. They are shallow-rooted and very susceptible to uprooting and breakage of branches by typhoons.
The specific name, “falcate” or “curved like a sickle” refers to the leaflets.
Description – Large deciduous tree to 24-30m tall with long trunk, often bent or branching to 80cm in diameter, not enlarged at base; thin, very broad spreading crown, often umbrella-shaped, of dull green foliage. Bark light gray, smooth with corky warts, showy; inner bark pink, astringent slightly bitter, Twigs stout, light gray.
Leaves alternate, bipinnately compound, 23-30cm long, with tiny rusty pressed hairs and slender angled axis bearing gland above base. Side axes (pinnae) 10-12 pairs, 5-10cm long. Leaflets paired 15-20 pairs on each axis, stalk less small, along, 6-12mm long, 3-5mm wide, short-pointed at tip, unequal-sided and blunt at base, edges not toothed, upper surface dull green and hairless, underneath paler and finally hairy.
Flower clusters (panicles) large, laternal, branched, 20-25cm long. Flowers many, clustered, stalk less 12mm long, whitish, composed of light green bell shaped 5-toothed hairy calyx 3mm long, greenish-white hairy corolla 6mm long with 5 narrow pointed lobes; very many threadlike, spreading, whitish stamens more than 12mm long and slender pistil with narrow ovary and long threadlike style.
Pods (legumes) narrow, flat, 10-13cm long, 2cm wide, short pointed, green turning brown, thin-walled, splitting open. Seeds 15-20, bean like, 6mm long, oblong, flattened, dull dark brown.
Wood light-colored, very soft, lightweight (sp.gr.0.30-0.46) with grain usually straight, shallowly interlocked. Difficult to saw, not strong, not durable. Wood suitable for fuel and makes good charcoal, though its calorific value is not high.
Other Uses A promising source of pulpwood. Rated excellent for fibreboard and particle-board. Used for veneer core stock pallets, boxes, crates, furniture components, matches.
Trees widely planted as fast-growing timber trees in reforestation and sometimes as shade for tea, coffee and banana plantations. Also grown as ornamentals, though large and short-lived.
Natural Distribution Native of Moluccas, New Guinea, New Britain and Solomon Islands. Altitude where native from sea level to 1200m and in plantations to 1500m.
Introduced and widely planted in tropical countries and becoming naturalized. Common in Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Pacific Islands to Hawaii.
Climate and Soils Humid or moist tropical, such as tropical rain forest. Rainfall high (2000-4000mm), uniform through the year or with dry season of not more than 2 months. In the Philippines plantations rainfall as much as 4500mm. Grows best on deep, well-drained fertile soils, such as friable clay loam. Does better on alkaline than acid soils; not suited to dry sands.
SPECIES: Albizia falcataria
Taxonomy:
1. Family – Mimosaceae
2. Synonyms- A. moluccann Mig. And A. falcata (L) Back
3. Local or trade names – Bantai
Natural occurrence:
4. Latitudes . 100 S – 30 N
5. Areas . North Moluccas, Indonesia: Naturalized in much of far East
Climate:
6. Altitudinal range 0 1200 metres
7. Mean annual rainfall 2000 4000 mm
8. Rainfall regime – Uniform
9. Dry season 0 2 months
10. Mean Max. Temp. hottest month 300 – 340 C
11. Mean Min. Temp. Coldest month . 200 – 240 C
12. Mean Annual Temp. 220 – 290 C
Soils:
13. Texture . Light / medium / heavy
14. Reaction . Neutral / acid
15. Drainage Free draining: moist
16. Other characteristice Adaptable
Silviculture:
17. Size 25 35 metres in height
18. Description Deciduous: open-crowned
19. Form . Acceptable : variable
20. Light requirements . Strongly demanding
21. Other characteristice Coppices
Production:
22. Volume 10 cu.metres
Protection Planting:
23. Soil improvement: agricultural shade
Timber:
24. Density. S.G. 0.42 0.46
25. Natural durability Poor
26. Preservation Easy
27. Sawing &&&& Easy
28. Seasoning &Easy with correct techniques
29. Other features. Soft and non-fissile
Utilization:
30. Sawn Timber Light construction: boxes, etc.
31. Round wood . Shortfibre pulp: veneer / plywood
32. Other products.. -
Nursery:
33. Seed scurces . Malaya: Fiji: Sabah: Hawaii: Indonesia: Philippines
34. Seeds per Kilogramme 38,000 44,000
35. Storage Airtight for up to one year
36. Pre-treatment. Boiling water till cool
37. Planting Stock. Potted: stumps
38. Special requirements -
39. Germination and growth &. Germinates in 2 5 days
Plantable size in 4 6 months.
Principal pests and diseases:
40. None of importance reported
INTRODUCTION
The common trade name applied to the heavier forms of Shorea albida (Dipterocarpaceae). Vernacular names applied include empenit (Sarawak), meraka (Sarawak), meraka alan (Sarawak), sengawan (Sarawak), seringawan (Sarawak) and singawan batu (Sarawak). The sapwood is light greyish brown and merges gradually into the heartwood, which is deep reddish brown. The timber resembles the Red Balau of Peninsular Malaysia, but is classified as a Medium Hardwood in Sarawak.
DENSITY
The timber is hard and heavy with a density of 800-925 kg/m3 air dry.
NATURAL DURABILITY
The timber is moderately durable.
TEXTURE
Texture is coarse and even, with straight to interlocked grain.
STRENGTH PROPERTIES
The timber falls into Strength Group B (Burgess, 1958).
MACHINING PROPERTIES
It is easy to work and the planed surface is smooth.
AIR DRYING
The timber seasons well without any serious defects.
SHRINKAGE
Shrinkage is very high, especially in the tangential direction. Radial shrinkage averages 2.2% while tangential shrinkage averages 6%.
USES
The timber is suitable for medium to heavy construction under cover, flooring, interior finishing, panelling, mouldings, furniture manufacture, tool handles (impact) and other types of joinery. It is also used in Sarawak for boat building.
REFERENCES
1.
Burgess, H. J. 1958. Strength Grouping of Malaysian Timbers. Malayan Forest Service Trade Leaflet No. 25. The Malaysian Timber Industry Board and Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. 15 pp.
2.
Menon, P. K. B. 1986. Uses of Some Malaysian Timbers. Revised by Lim, S. C. Timber Trade Leaflet No. 31. The Malaysian Timber Industry Board and Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. 48 pp.
3.
Wong, T. M. 1982. A Dictionary of Malaysian Timbers. Revised by Lim, S. C. & Chung, R. C. K. Malayan Forest Records No. 30. Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. 201 pp.
ALAN BUNGA
Alan Bunga is the trade name applied to lighter forms of Shorea albida in Sarawak. The timber comes from the juvenile wood of the younger and smaller trees. It seasons well without any serious defects.
Description of the wood:
Sapwood is light yellowish pink and not clearly defined from the heartwood which is pink or pinkish red. The grain is straight to shallowly interlocked. The texture is rather coarse and even.
Discoglypremna caloneura
Discoglypremna caloneura of the family Euphorbiaceae
An obscure African wood, not generally available in the USA
Ailanthus altissima (pronounced /eɪˈlænθəs ælˈtɪsɪmə/[1]), commonly known as tree of heaven, ailanthus, or in Standard Mandarin as chouchun (Chinese: 臭椿; pinyin: chòuchūn), is a deciduous tree in the Simaroubaceae family. It is native to both Taiwan and northeast and central China. Unlike other members of the genus Ailanthus, it is found in temperate climates rather than the tropics. The tree grows rapidly and is capable of reaching heights of 15 metres (50 ft) in 25 years. However, the species is also short lived and rarely lives more than 50 years.
In China, the tree of heaven has a long and rich history. It was mentioned in the oldest extant Chinese dictionary and listed in countless Chinese medical texts for its purported ability to cure ailments ranging from mental illness to balding. The roots, leaves and bark are still used today in traditional Chinese medicine, primarily as an astringent. The tree has been grown extensively both in China and abroad as a host plant for the ailanthus silkmoth, a moth involved in silk production. Ailanthus has become a part of western culture as well, with the tree serving as the central metaphor and subject matter of the best-selling American novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.
The tree was first brought from China to Europe in the 1740s and to the United States in 1784. It was one of the first trees brought west during a time when chinoiserie was dominating European arts, and was initially hailed as a beautiful garden specimen. However, enthusiasm soon waned after gardeners became familiar with its suckering habits and its foul smelling odour. Despite this, it was used extensively as a street tree during much of the 19th century. Outside of Europe and the United States, the plant has been spread to many other areas beyond its native range. In a number of these, it has become an invasive species due to its ability to quickly colonise disturbed areas and suppress competition with allelopathic chemicals. It is considered a noxious weed in Australia, the United States, New Zealand and several countries in southern and eastern Europe. The tree also resprouts vigorously when cut, making its eradication difficult and time consuming.
Ailanthus is an opportunistic plant that thrives in full sun and disturbed areas. It spreads aggressively both by seeds and vegetatively by root sprouts. It can re-sprout rapidly after being cut.[2] It is considered a shade-intolerant tree and cannot compete in low-light situations,[24] though it is sometimes found competing with hardwoods, but such competition rather indicates it was present at the time the stand was established.[2] On the other hand, a study in an old-growth hemlock-hardwood forest in New York found that Ailanthus was capable of competing successfully with native trees in canopy gaps where only 2 to 15% of full sun was available. The same study characterised the tree as using a “gap-obligate” strategy in order to reach the forest canopy, meaning it grows rapidly during a very short period rather than growing slowly over a long period.[25] It is a short lived tree in any location and rarely lives more than 50 years.[2] Ailanthus is among the most pollution-tolerant of tree species, including sulfur dioxide, which it absorbs in its leaves. It can withstand cement dust and fumes from coal tar operations, as well as resist ozone exposure relatively well. Furthermore, high concentrations of mercury have been found built up in tissues of the plant.[14]
Ailanthus has been used to re-vegetate areas where acid mine drainage has occurred and it has been shown to tolerate pH levels as low as 4.1 (approximately that of tomato juice). It can withstand very low phosphorus levels and high salinity levels. The drought-tolerance of the tree is strong due to its ability to effectively store water in its root system.[14] It is frequently found in areas where few trees can survive. The roots are also aggressive enough to cause damage to subterranean sewers and pipes.[3] Along highways it often forms dense thickets in which few other tree species are present, largely due to the toxins it produces to prevent competition.[14]
Female tree growing in Chicago, Illinois
Ailanthus produces an allelopathic chemical called ailanthone, which inhibits the growth of other plants.[26] The inhibitors are strongest in the bark and roots, but are also present in the leaves, wood and seeds of the plant. One study showed that a crude extract of the root bark inhibited 50% of a sample of garden cress (Lepidium sativum) seeds from germinating. The same study tested the extract as an herbicide on garden cress, redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrastii), yellow bristlegrass (Setaria glauca), barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusgalli), pea (Pisum sativum cv. Sugar Snap) and maize (Zea mays cv. Silver Queen). It proved able to kill nearly 100% of seedlings with the exception of velvetleaf, which showed some resistance.[27] Another experiment showed a water extract of the chemical was either lethal or highly damaging to 11 North American hardwoods and 34 conifers, with the white ash (Fraxinus americana) being the only plant not adversely affected.[28] The chemical does not, however, affect the tree of heaven’s own seedlings, indicating that A. altissima has a defence mechanism to prevent autotoxicity.[26] Resistance in various plant species has been shown to increase with exposure. Populations without prior exposure to the chemicals are most susceptible to them. Seeds produced from exposed plants have also been shown to be more resistant than their unexposed counterparts.[29]
The tree of heaven is a very rapidly growing tree, possibly the fastest growing tree in North America.[30] Growth of one to two metres (3.3 to 6.6 ft) per year for the first four years is considered normal. Shade considerably hampers growth rates. Older trees, while growing much slower, still do so faster than other trees. Studies found that Californian trees grew faster than their East Coast counterparts, and American trees in general grew faster than Chinese ones.[30]
In northern Europe the tree of heaven was not considered naturalised in cities until after the Second World War. This has been attributed to the tree’s ability to colonise areas of rubble of destroyed buildings where most other plants would not grow.[15] In addition, the warmer microclimate in cities offers a more suitable habitat than the surrounding rural areas. For example, one study in Germany found the tree of heaven growing in 92% of densely populated areas of Berlin, 25% of its suburbs and only 3% of areas outside the city altogether.[15] In other areas of Europe this is not the case as climates are mild enough for the tree to flourish. It has colonised natural areas in Hungary, for example, and is considered a threat to biodiversity at that country’s Aggtelek National Park.[15]
Several species of Lepidoptera utilise the leaves of ailanthus as food, including the Indian moon moth (Actias selene) and the grass yellow (Eurema hecabe). In North America the tree is the host plant for the ailanthus webworm (Atteva punctella), though this ermine moth is native to Central and South America and originally used other members of the mostly tropical Simaroubaceae as its hosts.[31] In its native range A. altissima is associated with at least 32 species of arthropods and 13 species of fungi.[11]
Due to the tree of heaven’s weedy habit, landowners and other organisations often resort to various methods of control in order to keep its populations in check. For example, the city of Basel in Switzerland has an eradication program for the tree.[15] It can be very difficult to eradicate, however. Means of eradication can be physical, thermal, managerial, biological or chemical. A combination of these can be most effective, though they must of course be compatible. All have some positive and negative aspects, but the most effective regime is a mixture of chemical and physical control. This involves the application of foliar or basal herbicides in order to kill existing trees, while either hand pulling or mowing seedlings in order to prevent new growth
In addition to its use as an ornamental plant, the tree of heaven is also used for its wood, medicinal properties, and as a host plant to feed silkworms of the moth Samia cynthia, which produces silk that is stronger and cheaper than mulberry silk, although with inferior gloss and texture. It is also unable to take dye. This type of silk is known as “pongee” or “Shantung silk”, the second name being derived from Shandong Province in China where this silk is often produced. Its production is particularly well known in the Yantai region of that province. The moth has also been introduced in the United States.[3]
The pale yellow, close-grained and satiny wood of ailanthus has been used in cabinet work.[34] It is flexible and well suited to the manufacture of kitchen steamers, which are important in Chinese cuisine for cooking mantou, pastries and rice. Zhejiang Province in eastern China is most famous for producing these steamers.[3] It is also considered a good source of firewood across much of its range as it moderately hard and heavy, yet readily available.[35] There are problems with using the wood as lumber, however. Because the trees exhibit rapid growth for the first few years, the trunk has uneven texture between the inner and outer wood, which can cause the wood to twist or crack during drying. Techniques have been developed for drying the wood so as to prevent this cracking, allowing it to be commercially harvested. Although the live tree tends to have very flexible wood, the wood is quite hard once properly dried.[
Aglaia Wood
Name Agba (Gossweilerodendron balsamiferum)
Type Hardwood.
Other Names Also known as egba, nitola, ntola, tola, white tola, moboron, mutsekamambole, and Nigerian cedar.
Sources Grows in tropical west Africa, primarily Nigeria, Angola, and Zaire.
Appearance Fine texture with a straight to mildy interlocked or wavy grain. Pale straw to reddish brown hearwood and lighter-colored, indistinct sapwood. Heartwood bears a resemblance to mahogany.
Physical Props Light and relatively soft with low stiffness, low shock resistance, moderately low strength, good stability in service and high decay resistance (heartwood). Steam-bends moderately well.
Working Props Turns, planes, bores, routs, and otherwise works well although gum may accumulate on cutting edges. Glues, screws, and nails easily. Stains and finishes well, particularly if grain filler used.
Uses Top notch wood for interior joinery, paneling, table and chair parts, desks, handles, dowels, and other turned items. Other uses include mouldings, coffins, toys, flooring, exterior joinery, boat and vehicle frames, marine plywood, and decorative veneers. .
Afzelia spp. of the family Leguminosae (subfamily Caesalpinioideae), the legume or pea family
The genus Afzelia, which occurs both in Africa and in SE Asia, yields a particularly stable wood. The name afzelia will usually refer to African wood. A particular grade of African wood is traded as doussi�.
Afzelia is a genus in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae of the family Fabaceae (legumes). The thirteen species all are trees, native to tropical Africa or Asia.
Afzelia species are used primarily for wood, though some species also have medicinal uses. The timber is most commonly traded under the collective name “doussie”, as well as under name “afzelia”. One of the common names is also “pod mahogany”, adding to the confusion surrounding the name mahogany.
The seeds are red and black and are used as beads.
The wood is often used as the surface material for velodromes.
The highly-figured wood of the Asian species, Afzelia xylocarpa, is sold as Afzelia xylay. The seeds and bark of this species are used for medicinal purposes.