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Avicennia alba Blume
VERBENACEAE
M[aws]m tr[aws]ng (Vietnam); Phephe le (Thailand); Mae le (Thailand); Samae khao (Thailand); Lame (Myanmar); Aip-api puti (Philippines); Apiapi puteh (Malaysia); Api-api hitam (Sarawak); ros-rosan (Indonesia)
Avicennia spicata Kunth.; Avicennia officinalis L. var. alba (Blume) Hook. e; Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. Var. alba (Blume)
It is a small to medium sized tree, reaching up to 30 m in height and 60 cm in diameter. The bole is usually crooked, branchless for the first 10 m.
It thrives at the sea level, it is a typical element of the mangrove fringe.
Plantations are reported in Fiji.
Wood diffuse porous. Occasionally vessels in radial multiples of 4 or more common. Occasionally vessels of two distinct diameter classes, wood not ring-porous. Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100 micras or less (very small). Occasionally vessels with col Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Axial parenchyma aliform. Axial parenchyma confluent. 3 to 4 cells per parenchyma strand. 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Rays more than 10 per mm (abundant). Occasionally rays of two distinct sizes. Ray height more than 1 mm. Occasionally larger rays more than 4 seriate. Prismatic crystals in the ray cells. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Unrestricted
The heartwood is grayish with a purple cast, not differentiated from the sapwood.
5
The grain is typically straight or wavy and sometimes interlocked.
The texture is typically fine to medium.
It presents a pronounced figure on the tangential face.
It has very low natural resistance to decay. It is vulnerable to attack by insects and it is also prone to blue stain.
5
0.73
0.83
7.3
4.5
Drying Defects: Care is needed during seasoning, especially with the heavier timber, as backsawn boards tend to check. Kiln Schedules: Kiln drying of heavier grades of eucalyptus timber is only practicable in boards up to 25 mm in thickness. It is strongly recommended to air dry the wood to 30% moisture content prior to kiln drying.
1.6
620
107000
310
77
It is rather difficult to work due to the interlocked grain and the presence of stone cells.
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