MALABAR BAUHINIA (Bauhinia malabarica)
Trade Name
Malabar bauhinia
Scientific Name
Bauhinia malabarica Roxb.
Family
LEGUMINOSAE
Common Names
Kendayakan (Indonesia); Alibangbang (Philippines); Bwaygyin (Myanmar); Mountain ebony (India); Choeung koo (Cambodia); Benculuk (Indonesia); Som sieo (Laos); Chongkho (Thailand); Salaeng phan (Thailand); Sieo som (Thailand); Mosng bof (Vietnam); Tai tuw owjng (Vietnam); Malabar bauhinia; Bwegyin (Myanmar); Tai voi (Vietnam); Kripi (Indonesia); Bwechin (Myanmar)
Scientific Name Synonyms
Piliostigma malabaricum (Roxb.) Benth.; Piliostigma acidum(Reinw. ex Korth) Benth.
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
It is an evergreen or nearly evergreen, dioecious, small tree up to 17 m tall. The bole is short and often gnarled, up to 50 cm in diameter.
Natural Habitat
This species is found in areas with clearly demarcated dry seasons. It is reported up to 600 m above the sea level.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to intervessel pits in size and shape. Axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Axial parenchyma confluent. Rays storied. Body ray cells procumbent with one row of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-III). Fibers with distinctly bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
The heartwood is pale red, not clearly differentiated from the sapwood.
Grain
The grain is straight or slightly interlocked.
Texture
The texture is moderately fine.
Natural Durability
It is durable only for interior use. It is attacked by dry wood insects.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
6
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.66
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.74
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
4.9
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
2.5
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
2.0
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Workability
Machining
Machining of this species is easy to fair.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
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