VUTU (Barringtonia edulis Seem)
Trade Name
Vutu
Family
Lecythidaceae
Common Names
Vutu (Fiji)
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
Bole 10～18 m long.
Natural Habitat
Can be found in littoral forests,along rivers and estuaries, usually not found far inland, and sometimes on coral islands.
Natural Distribution
Fiji,New Hebrides,Samoa.
Non Timber Uses
itu is a moderately light hardwood, comparable with Kaudama in density Potential uses include building timber, dressed framing and mouldings. Often used in the round.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Vessels per mm2 more than 20 (very abundant). Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 150 to 200 micras (medium). Vessels in radial multiples of 2 to 4. Occasionally vessel clusters common. Axial parenchyma oblique and/or sinuous. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Axial parenchyma confluent. Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse and/or diffuse in aggregates. Occasionally rays of two distinct sizes.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
Logs may be entirely sapwood, pale brown or yellow- brown in color, or a narrow pink heartwood may be present. The rays give rise to a subdued figure on radial faces.
Grain
The grain straight.
Texture
Texture is intermediate .
Natural Durability
Sapwood is susceptible to Lyctus attack and is prone to blue-stain. Vutu is perishable in ground contact, necessitating preservative treatment for any permanent end use. Sapwood permeable, heartwood moderately resistant to pressure impregnation. Often use
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
3
Wood Physical Properties
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.58
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
Fiji-4
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
650
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
105000
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
410
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
410
Workability
Sawing
The timber is easy to saw in green and dry conditions.
Rotary Veneer Cutting
A very similar species of Barringtonia is used for veneer production in the north of Queensland. Trials indicate satisfactory peeling of Vutu depends on relatively precise and high nose-bar pressure. In drying, shrinkage is higher than usual and significant
Sliced Veneer
A very similar species of Barringtonia is used for veneer production in the north of Queensland. Trials indicate satisfactory peeling of Vutu depends on relatively precise and high nose-bar pressure. In drying, shrinkage is higher than usual and significant
Machining
Machining surfaces have a slightly corrugated feel, but are still rated good. Turned and cross-cut surfaces may be somewhat fibrous.Tensionwood may be encountered.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, beams, frames, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, TOOLS, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, moldings
Beams
- 11 - Prospect: The wood database
Frames
- 16 - Woods of the World
Furniture Cabinets
- 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Tools
- 42 - Utilización Industrial de Nuevas Especies Forestales en el Perú.
Molding
- 79 - Padronização da Nomenclatura Comercial Brasileira das Madeiras Tropicais Amazônicas, Sugestão
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