< Back SARACA (Saraca thaipingensis) Print Friendly View
SARACA (Saraca thaipingensis)
Trade Name
Saraca
Scientific Name
Saraca thaipingensis Cantley ex King
Family
LEGUMINOSAE
Common Names
Asok yai (Thailand); Asok lueang (Thailand); Narrow-leaved saraca; Talan (Malaysia); Sok lueang (Thailand); Yellow saraca
Scientific Name Synonyms
Saraca declinata auct. Non (Jack) Miq; Saraca caulifora Baker
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
It is a small to medium sized tree up to 20 m tall. The bole is poorly shaped, short, up to 40 cm in diameter. It does not present buttresses but fine roots stretching out from the butt.
Natural Habitat
Saraca trees are reported in primary and secondary evergreen rain forests, up to 900 m of altitude. They grow in swamp forests and also on well drained locations.
Non Timber Uses
The aqueous extract of S. indica bark has shown considerable inhibitory activity to the AIDS virus (HIV type 1).
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Colored deposits in heartwood vessels. Vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 5 to 20. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to intervessel pits in size and shape. Intervessel pits small, 7 micras or Occasionally axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Occasionally paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Axial parenchyma aliform. Axial parenchyma confluent. Prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma cells and/or 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Occasionally rays more than 10 per mm (abundant). Occasionally rays exclusively uniseriate. Occasionally body ray cells procumbent with mostly 2 to 4 rows of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-II). Body ray cells procumb Fibers very thin walled. Crystals in fibers. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
The heartwood is dark gray-brown with darker streaks, sharply differentiated from the sapwood, which is yellow-white with a pink tinge.
Grain
Shallowly interlocked grain is reported in this species.
Texture
This wood has a somewhat coarse texture.
Luster
The planed surfaces are slightly lustrous.
Natural Durability
It is perishable and prone to decay and insect damage.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
5
Resistance To Impregnation
The heartwood is resistant to impregnation with preservatives, even under pressure, but the sapwood is permeable.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.55
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.60
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
8.2
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
3.1
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Drying is moderately easy; some particular care is needed. Drying Defects: Risks of checks. Kiln Schedules: The kiln schedule has been tested.
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
2.6
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Workability
Sawing
Sawing operations are rated as easy to fair.
Planing
The wood can be planed to a smooth surface although some picking up may occur on radial surfaces.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, TOOLS, tool handles, PACKING, pallets
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Tools
- 42 - Utilización Industrial de Nuevas Especies Forestales en el Perú.
Tool Handles
- 43 - Maderas de Bolivia (Características y Usos de 55 Maderas Tropicales)
Packing
- 45 - Recopilación y Análisis de Estudios Tecnológicos de Maderas Peruanas
Pallets
- 48 - The strength properties of timbers
Please Provide Information To View Producer Information