KEMIRI (Aleurites moluccana)
Trade Name
Kemiri
Scientific Name
Aleurites moluccana (L.) Willd.
Family
EUPHORBIACEAE
Common Names
Tingkih; Tel-kekuna; Singapore nut; Rata-kekuna; Pidekan; Peridjah; Moentjang; Miri; Lekong; Kukui; Kereh; Keminting; Kemiling; Kemili; Kembiri; Kawiloe; Kamiri; Kamieh; Kamere; Kaleli; Jaiphal; Indian walnut; Goum ne wet; Gambiri; Derekan; Candlenut siris; Candlenut; Camiri nut; Buah keras; Boewah kareh; Belgaum walnut; Bancoulier; Akrod; Lumbang (Philippines); Kemiri; Beraoe (India); Candlenut tree (Philippines); Mepepe
Scientific Name Synonyms
Jatropha moluccana L.; Croton moluccanum L.; Aleurites triloba J.R. Forst. & G. Forst.; Aleurites moluccana var. serotina O. Deg. & Sherff; Aleurites ambinux Pers.
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
It is a large tree, with boles of 10 to 20 m. The bole is long, cylindrical, distinctly tapering, erect or straight at times crooked or bent. The buttresses are very low, almost absent, rounded.
Natural Habitat
It occurs in low altitudes, up to 1,000 m of altitude, in humid mixed rain forests.
Natural Distribution
It is probably a native of the Pacific, New Guinea, northern Queensland and the Malay Archipelago but naturalized in Hawaii, Sri Lanka and New Caledonia.
Non Timber Uses
The sawdust may cause allergic reactions like sore throat and headache.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Vessels exclusively solitary (over 90%). Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Intervessel pits large, 10 micras or more. Axial parenchyma reticulate. Axial parenchyma scalariform. Prismatic crystals in non-chambered axial parenchyma cells. Prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma cells and/or in fibers. Body ray cells procumbent with mostly 2 to 4 rows of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-II). Fibers with distinctly bordered pits.
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Wood Macro Photo Tangential Plane
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
The sapwood and heartwood are silver-white with slight yellowish reflections.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
7
Grain
It has straight grain.
Texture
The texture of the wood is fine.
Natural Durability
The wood is non-durable when exposed to the weather.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
5
Resistance To Impregnation
The sapwood is permeable, but the heartwood is moderately resistant to impregnation.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.33
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.35
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
5.0
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
2.6
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Air seasoning is reported to be easy and rapid, without seriously degrade. Drying Defects: It often darkens considerately on drying. Kiln drying may result in slight warping and splitting. Kiln Schedules: Schedule recommended for Lampati. For lighter color timbers USDF schedule T10-D5S or UK schedule J are recommended.
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.9
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
360
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
69000
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
180
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
122
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
143
Workability
Sawing
Cutting resistance is generally low.
Moulding
It is easy to mold.
Nailing
Nailing behavior is reportedly fair.
Finishing
The behavior in finishing is fair.
Staining
Staining behavior is fair.
Coatings
It paints and varnishes well.
Response To Hand Tools
The wood responds well to hand tools.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, boards, SPORTS, TOOLS, tool handles, PACKING, food container, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, shoes, matches, moldings, paper
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Boards
- 13 - Dry kiln schedules for commercial woods. Temperate and tropical. Section III. Latin American (Mexico, Central, and South America) Woods–Conventional Temperatures
Sports
- 38 - Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation 1998-ITTO
Tools
- 42 - Utilización Industrial de Nuevas Especies Forestales en el Perú.
Tool Handles
- 43 - Maderas de Bolivia (Características y Usos de 55 Maderas Tropicales)
Packing
- 45 - Recopilación y Análisis de Estudios Tecnológicos de Maderas Peruanas
Food Container
- 49 - Mechanical properties of certain tropical woods
Shoes
- 70 - Proprietes physiques et mecaniques des bois tropicaux de l`union francaise
Matches
- 71 - Proprietes physiques et mecaniques des bois tropicaux, premier supplement
Molding
- 79 - Padronização da Nomenclatura Comercial Brasileira das Madeiras Tropicais Amazônicas, Sugestão
Paper
- 82 - Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign woods (Part 2) Central and South America.
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