Tropical/Exotic Wood Species

1. Tropical/Exotic Wood Species • Wood species: • Red Lauan - Shorea spp. • American mahogany - Swietenia macrophylla • Teak - Tectona grandis • Rubberwood – Hevea brasiliensis

2. Eucalypt Plantations, Hawaii

3. Eucalyptus spp. in Portugal

4. Common Exotic and Tropical Species • Exotic wood species are used in furniture, cabinetry, and wood composites industry • Some other exotic species sold in U.S.: • Balsa - Ochroma pyramidale • Karri - Eucalyptus diversicolor • African mahagony - Khaya spp. • Indian rosewood - Dalbergia latifola • Radiata pine - Pinus radiata • Rubberwood - Hevea brasiliensis • Eucalyptus spp. Balsa

5. Red Lauan - Shorea spp.(Dipterocarpaceae) • Grows primarily in southeast Asia • Large trees ~150-200 feet tall with straight, cylindrical stems • Group made of about 30 species • Shorea is the most important genus, but woods from Parashorea and Pentacme also included in the group. • Other common names: • Meranti (Malaysia) • Seraya (Indonesia) • “Philippine Mahogany”

6. Red Lauan - Shorea spp.(Dipterocarpaceae) ID characteristics: • Color range: • dark red, light red, yellow, white • darker colors usually have a grayish or silvery sheen • Moderate density (SG=0.44-0.48) • Pores - large, evenly distributed, solitary or radial multiples of 2 • Gum ducts: appear as tangential rows of white dots (not traumatic - this is a regular feature) • Rays - indistinct on the cross section, ray ends are obvious (similar to sugar maple)

7. Red Lauan - Shorea spp.(Dipterocarpaceae) • Longitudinal Parenchyma - vasicentric, aliform, and diffuse-in-aggregate • Uses: • millwork • hardwood plywood • backing on paneling • boat building • but not decay resistant

8. American mahogany - Swietenia macrophylla (Meliaceae) • Grows in Central American and the Caribbean • Also called ‘true mahogany’ • Similar to African mahogany (darker color, no storied rays) Khaya spp. • Mahogany name is sometimes used for non-Meliaceae species (Philippine Mahogany) ID characteristics: • Moderate density (SG=0.45) • Color: rich reddish-brown (somewhat similar to black cherry)

9. American mahogany - Swietenia macrophylla (Meliaceae) • Growth rings are distinct due to marginal parenchyma formation • Pores: medium-large, diffuse porous, solitary and radial multiples • Rays: distinct with the hand lens (3-4 seriate) and storied • Longitudinal parenchyma: indistinct except for marginal parenchyma • Uses: • high grade furniture, paneling, cabinetry • boats • Mahogany species were very popular in Victorian era furniture

10. Teak - Tectona grandis (Verbenaceae) • Grows in Burma, Thailand, Southeast Asia, and plantations in Latin American and Africa • Some other species are marketed under a ‘teak’ name, e.g. cape teak, Phillipines teak ID Characteristics: • Moderate-high density (SG=0.57) • Color: golden-brown, • often with dark streaks • wood has an oily feel • Pores: variable pore arrangements (DP, SRP, RP) • tyloses present • solitary and radial multiples • Longitudinal parenchyma - marginal • Rays: distinct on the cross section (3-4 seriate)

12. Teak - Tectona grandis (Verbenaceae) • Miscellaneous: • old growth wood has a high silica content • blunts tools • dulls marine borers shells • Excellent decay resistance and dimensional stability • Uses: • Boat hulls and decks • Furniture (especially European, ‘Danish modern’) • Outdoor furniture • flooring (dense and dimensionally stable - good combination)

13. Rubberwood – Hevea brasiliensis(Euphorbiaceae) Other Names: Parawood, Asian oak, heveawood • Native to the Amazon basin. Grown in plantations in Southeast Asia and West Africa for rubber production. • Plantation trees are removed when ~30 years old. Rubberwood industry started about 15 years ago. • Wood is highly susceptible to fungal and insect attack. ID Characteristics: • Density (SGbasic = 0.46-0.52) • Color: yellow/cream

15. Rubberwood Uses: Furniture, particleboard, flooring, countertops, kitchen things, lots of miscellaneous applications. Often finger-jointed and edge-glued