Some Malayan hardwoods

Part Two

(s) GIAM

Of the several species of Hopea classified as Giam only three species, i.e. H. helferi, H. nutans and H. semicuneata grow to a sufficiently large size to yield sawn timber. Wood is very hard, very heavy, very strong and very durable and not very inferior to Chengal in both strength and durability. It seasons slowly and without serious degrade but is rather recalcitrant to work. It is generally free of defects except for occasional resin pockets, but sometimes the living tree is attacked by longhorn beetle which leaves large galleries. See also the reference to Giam under Balau above.

Generul description of the wood:The wood is very similar to Chengal except that the geen tinge of color of freshly sawn timber is not so pronounced in Giam and that ripple marks are absent.

Story at a Glance

Part two of a two part look at ten species of heavy hardwood from the Southeast Asian nation of Malaya . included are general description, shrinkage, tu rning, etc.

General desciption of the wood:Sapwood is not well defined. The heartwood is claret-red in color and is attractively streaked with lighter coloured layers and often has a small brown-black corewood. The grain is fairly straight or only shallowly interlocked and texture is moderately fine and even.

(7) KERANJI

Keranji is ttre product of several species of Dialium the most common of which are D. patens, D. platysepalum and D. wallichii. The wood is very hard, very heavy and very strong but is only'moderately durable under the tropical conditions of Malaya. It is very hard to work and some degrade in the form ofchecks and splits should be expected during seasoning. The wood has a very pleasing appearance. No serious defects occur except for a very occasional layer of included phloem.

General desciption of the wood:Sapwood is well defined and white in color. Heartwood is gold-brown or red-brown weathering to dark brown. Surface is lustrous. The grain is interlocked giving rise to attractive stripe figure and the texture is moderately coarse and even. Ripple marks are prominent.

(8)

Merbau

low in color. Heartwood is bronze or red-brown weathering to dark redbrown. Surface often moderatelY glossy. Growth rings are fairly distinct: grain is interlocked producing stripe figure. The texture is coarse but even.

(e) RESAK

Resak is made up of fairly uniform wood of numerous species of Vatica and two species of Corylelobium, Ihe most abundant of which are possibly Vatica cinerea, V. cuspidata and V. odorata. The timber of most species is very hard, heavy, strong and durable and one of the heavy constructional woods of Malaya. Due to the resinous nature of the wood it is rather difficult to saw. Its seasoning qualities are not good and therefore some degrade in the form of end and surface checking and distortion should be expected during seasoning. It is generally free of defects.

General description of the wood:Sapwood is light colored and sharply defined in freshly cut wood (but only moderately sharply defined in seasoned wood). The heartwood when fresh is yellow-brown or brown with an olive tinge, darkening on exposure to a dark red-brown. Surface is not lustrous. The grain is straight or only slightly interlocked and the texture is fine andeven. Unseasoned wood is rather resinous but not after seasoning.

(r0) TEMBUSU

(6) KEKATONG

Kekatong, produced principallY bY CJtnometra inaequifolin, is a very hard, very heavy, moderately durable wood which is sufficiently strong for all heavy construction and attractive enough for decorative uses. The wood is not amenable to preservative treat' ment and is difficult to work. It tends to split during seasoning. The wood is generally free of defects.

Merbau, the product of a single species Intsia (Afzeltu) palembanica, is a heavy, hard, fairly strong and durable wood closely resembling Ipil of the Philippines and Afzelia of Africa. It is one of the most popular woods of Malaya for heavy construc' tion. For its density it is rather difficult to work especially when dry. It shrinks only very little and is similar to Teak in this respect; it seasons slowly but without any degrade. Sapwood isvery perishable.

General description of the wood:Sapwood is well defined and pale yel'

Tembusu is a hard, heavy, strong and durable wood produced by Fagaea fragrans or F. gigantea. lt is moderately hard to work and it seasons without serious degrade but slowly. It is generally free of defects.

General desciption of the wood:Sapwood is not well defined and often difficult to differentiate from heartwood. Wood is light yellow'brown in color when fresh, weathering to a golden-brown or orange-brown. Surface is glossy: grain is slightly interlocked and the texture is moderately coarse or moderatelv fine and even.