MEDANG (Litsea leytensis)
Trade Name
Medang
Scientific Name
Litsea leytensis Merr.
Family
LAURACEAE
Common Names
Batikuling (Philippines); Balbonera (Philippines); Magarilau (Philippines)
Scientific Name Synonyms
Litsea obtusata (Meissn.) Fernandez-Villar
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
It is a medium-sized tree up to 25 m tall. The bole is straight, cylindrical, up to 80 cm in diameter, with small buttresses.
Natural Habitat
An important source of medang timber, this forest species has become rare. It occurs at low and medium altitudes.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Vessels per mm2 5 to 20. Tyloses common. Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100 to 200 micras. Vessel-ray pits reticulate and/or foraminate. Simple perforation plates. Intervessel pits large, 10 micras or more. Axial parenchyma aliform. Oil and/or mucilage cells in axial parenchyma (idioblasts). Larger rays more than 4 seriate. Body ray cells procumbent with one row of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-III).
-
Wood Macro Photo Radial Plane
-
Wood Micro Photo Of Transversal Section
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Odor
It is reported to have a characteristic odor.
Color
The heartwood usually ranges from pale olive-brown or creamy yellow to dark greenish-brown. The sapwood is often not distinctly demarcated from the heartwood.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
4
Grain
The grain is straight or slightly to moderately interlocked.
Texture
The texture is typically moderately fine and even.
Natural Durability
The wood is generally not durable and it is susceptible to fungal and Lyctus attack.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
5
Resistance To Impregnation
The heartwood is reported to be resistant to preservative treatment, but the sapwood is readily treatable.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.39
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.42
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
8.0
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
4.3
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Air seasoning is reported to be good, although material from Sarawak was difficult to dry. Drying Defects: It is reported not subject to checking and splitting, although material from Sarawak had a tendency to collapse. Kiln Schedules: Schedule suggested for Katon.
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
UK-H; JP-28
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.9
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Workability
Sawing
Sawmilling of this species is reportedly easy to slightly difficult.
Planing
Planing operations are rather easy.
Nailing
Nailing is reported as easy.
Finishing
Finishing properties are rated as good to fair.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, boards, panelling, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, TOOLS, tool handles, agricultural tools, PACKING, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, handicrafts
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
Paneling
- 18 - W3TROPICOS Missouri Botanical Garden
Furniture Cabinets
- 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Cabinet
- 24 - Empire Timbers
Panels, Veneers
- 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Tools
- 42 - Utilización Industrial de Nuevas Especies Forestales en el Perú.
Tool Handles
- 43 - Maderas de Bolivia (Características y Usos de 55 Maderas Tropicales)
Agricultural Tools
- 44 - Atlas of Peruvian Woods
Packing
- 45 - Recopilación y Análisis de Estudios Tecnológicos de Maderas Peruanas
Handcraft
- 66 - Maderas latinoamericanas. VII. Caracteristicas anatomicas. propiedades fisicomecanicas, de secado, y tratabilidad de la madera juvenil de Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav. Oken.)
Please Provide Information To View Producer Information