< Back MERPAUH (Swintonia floribunda) Print Friendly View
MERPAUH (Swintonia floribunda)
Trade Name
Merpauh
Scientific Name
Swintonia floribunda Griffith
Family
ANACARDIACEAE
Common Names
Moum (Cambodia); Moum (Vietnam); Civit (Myanmar); Merpauh pering (Malaysia); Merpauh; Mirah (Indonesia); Bagel (Indonesia); Merpauh daun runching (Malaysia); Kedondong rabuk (Indonesia); Kereta (Indonesia); Muom (Cambodia); Thayet-kin (India); Muom (Vietnam); Civit taungthayet (Myanmar); Taung thayet (Myanmar); Merpau (Malaysia); Civit (Pakistan)
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
It is a medium-sized tree up to 30 tall, with 75 cm in diameter. The bole is branchless for up to 20 m. The buttresses are 2.5 m tall, often slightly sinuous or angular.
Natural Habitat
Swintonia floribunda is found in lowland and hill forests, sometimes in pure stands, especially on ridges, up to 1,000 m of altitude.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 200 micras or more (large). Tyloses common. Vessels per mm2 5 to 20. Vessel-ray pits reticulate and/or foraminate. Simple perforation plates. Intervessel pits large, 10 micras or more. Axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Prismatic crystals in non-chambered axial parenchyma cells. Prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma cells and/or in fibers. 3 to 4 cells per parenchyma strand. Axial parenchyma in narrow ba 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Silica bodies in the ray cells. Body ray cells procumbent with one row of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-III). Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Odor
It has no distinct odor or taste.
Color
The sapwood is almost indistinguishable. The heartwood occasionally turns reddish brown.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
5
Grain
It is mostly straight, occasionally wavy.
Texture
It is moderately coarse but uniform.
Luster
The wood is lustrous when first exposed.
Natural Durability
It is perishable and susceptible to blue stain, but fairly durable under cover and under water.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
5
Internal Growth Stresses
Timber of this species contains significant residual stresses.
Silica Content
Silica Content: Silica is present. Amounts over 0.05% may affect wood processing. Silica Value: 0
Resistance To Impregnation
It is easily treatable with good retention of preservative substances.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.63
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.70
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
6.0
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
3.0
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.
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
UK-C
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
2.0
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
981
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
152108
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
459
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
143
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
465
Workability
Sawing
Cutting resistance is generally low, but the presence of tension wood may affect sawmilling.
Rotary Veneer Cutting
This species is reported to have good characteristics for lamination.
Sliced Veneer
This species is reported to have good characteristics for lamination.
Blunting Effect
Wood of this species tends to jam the saw blade, producing a severe blunting effect.
Machining
It is easy to machine.
Planing
This species is easy to plane.
Boring
Boring of this species is reported to be difficult.
Nailing
The nailing properties are rated as good to fair.
Gluing
Gluing behavior is reportedly good.
Finishing
This species is reported to give good to moderate results in finishing.
Steam Bending
This species is easy to bend.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, flooring, panelling, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, PACKING, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, boat hulls, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, matches
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Flooring
- 14 - Handbook of Hardwoods
Paneling
- 18 - W3TROPICOS Missouri Botanical Garden
Furniture Cabinets
- 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Panels, Veneers
- 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Packing
- 45 - Recopilación y Análisis de Estudios Tecnológicos de Maderas Peruanas
Shipbuilding
- 55 - Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America
Boat Hulls
- 57 - Estadísticas de Aprovechamiento, Exportación y comercialización Nacional de Productos Forestales
Matches
- 71 - Proprietes physiques et mecaniques des bois tropicaux, premier supplement
Please Provide Information To View Producer Information