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LAUBU (Garcinia myrtifolia)
Trade Name
Laubu
Scientific Name
Garcinia myrtifolia A.C.Smith
Family
Guttiferae
Common Names
Laubu (Fiji)
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
Average bole length is 12 m,mximum 20 m. Genus Garcinia is important as source of edible fruit, producing the popular Mangosteen.Most species are slow-growing.
Natural Habitat
In primary,secondary,open or rocky forests,sometimes on limestone. Found usually above 50 m in Fiji up to 915 m,and in Tonga up to 400 m.
Natural Distribution
Widespread but not common troughout Malaysia,Indonesia,the Philippines, New Guinea and the Pacific.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Vessels per mm2 more than 20 (very abundant). Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100 to 150 micras (small). Vessels in radial multiples of 2 to 4. Occasionally vessels in radial multiples of 4 or more common. Axial parenchyma in continuous tangential lines (included in reticulate and scalariform). Axial parenchyma confluent.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
Laubu is yellow to orange-brown in color, sometimes with bright yellow streaking. The sapwood band,50～75 mm wide, is straw to yellow-brown. Dark and knotty cores a feature of some logs.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
3
Grain
The grain is usually straight, sometimes wavy.
Texture
Texture is intermediate and uniform.
Natural Durability
Sapwood is susceptible to Lyctus attack. Heartwood is not durable being rate adequate only for hazard 1 end uses. Timber out of ground contact, continuously protected from the weather. Timber liable to pinhole borer and marine borer attack. Sapwood permeable,
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
5
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.65
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.81
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
7.7
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
2.9
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
Fiji-6
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
2.7
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
1100
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
160000
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
610
Workability
Sawing
Sawing produces smooth surfaces in the green and air dry condition.
Machining
It turns well and can be machined satisfactorily with only occasional chipping on some radial faces. Some of the siliceous South-East Asian species may be more difficult to work.
Nailing
Difficult to nail when dry, has very good wearing properties
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, flooring, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, faces, TOOLS, tool handles, agricultural tools, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, boat deck
Flooring
- 14 - Handbook of Hardwoods
Furniture Cabinets
- 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Cabinet
- 24 - Empire Timbers
Faces
- 26 - Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation 1998-ITTO
Tool Handles
- 43 - Maderas de Bolivia (Características y Usos de 55 Maderas Tropicales)
Agricultural Tools
- 44 - Atlas of Peruvian Woods
Boat Decking
- 59 - Programa Nacional de uso Sostenible de los Bosques e Incremento a las Exportaciones.
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