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MERBAU LALAT (Sympetalandra densiflora)
Trade Name
Merbau lalat
Scientific Name
Sympetalandra densiflora (Elmer) Steenis
Family
LEGUMINOSAE
Common Names
Kamatog (Philippines); Batik (Philippines); Baoy (Philippines)
Scientific Name Synonyms
Erythrophleum densiflorum (Elmer) Merr; Cynometra densiflora Elmer
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
It is a unarmed, small to medium-sized tree, up to 30 m tall, with 85 cm in diameter. The bole is cylindrical to irregular, branchless for 18 m, usually with prominent buttresses up to 4 m high.
Natural Habitat
This species is found in primary evergreen rain forests, up to 600 m of altitude.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 200 micras or more (large). Occasionally vessels with colored deposits. Vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to intervessel pits in size a Axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Axial parenchyma aliform. Axial parenchyma confluent. Prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma cells and/or in fibers. Two cells per parenchyma strand. 3 to 4 cells per parenchyma strand. 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Occasionally rays exclusively uniseriate. Homogeneous rays and/or sub-homogeneous rays (all ray cells procumbent). Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
The heartwood varies from reddish to reddish-brown or pink-brown to brown, usually distinctly demarcated from the pale-colored sapwood.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
5
Grain
The grain is usually interlocked.
Texture
The texture varies from fairly fine to moderately coarse.
Luster
The wood is described as lustrous.
Natural Durability
The wood is only slightly durable when exposed to the weather or in contact with the ground. The heartwood is resistant to dry-wood termites.
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)
0.69
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.78
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
10.3
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
6.1
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Drying is fairly easy; some difficulties could occur when drying too fast. Drying Defects: Risks of collapse. Kiln Schedules: The kiln schedule has been tested.
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.7
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
356
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
99
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
548
Workability
Machining
Wood processing is reported to be easy.
Finishing
It takes a high finish.
Polishing
Polishing of this species is reportedly easy.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, beams, joists, flooring, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Beams
- 11 - Prospect: The wood database
Joists
- 12 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part I-Tropical American Species
Flooring
- 14 - Handbook of Hardwoods
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
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