BAKAU (Rhizophora apiculata)
Trade Name
Bakau
Scientific Name
Rhizophora apiculata Blume
Family
Rhizophoraceae
Common Names
Uakatan; Sagasa; Red mangrove; Rai; Pyu; Payonapo; Pariccha kandal; Pang ka sai; Pang ka bai lek; Paga-paga; Kong kang; Khamo; Kaya kandal; Kang kang rhi; Kandal; Jangkar; Haura; Buayohon; Bhora; Bankao; Bangkita; Bangkau; Balbaro; Bako; Bakhao; Bakauan-lalaki; Bakauan-babai; Bakauan; Bakau minyak; Bakau; Bakad; Asiatic mangrove
Scientific Name Synonyms
Rhizophora candelaria DC.
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
It is a medium-sized tree up to 30 m tall, 75 cm in diameter. Rhizophora apiculata is a source of tannins.
Natural Habitat
It is common in marine and tidal swamps, where it forms almost pure, dense communities.
Non Timber Uses
The bark of Rhizophora has a high tannin content.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Vessels exclusively solitary (over 90%). Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100 micras or less (very small). Tyloses common. Vessel-ray pits reticulate and/or foraminate. Multiple perforation plates. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Larger rays more than 4 seriate. Prismatic crystals in the ray cells. Body ray cells procumbent with one row of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-III). Septate fibers present. Fibers very thick walled.
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Wood Macro Photo Tangential Plane
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Wood Micro Photo Of Transversal Section
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Odor
It has a characteristic mud smell which gradually fades.
Color
The sapwood is not well demarcated from heartwood, which is purplish-red, dark red-brown to yellowish-red.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
4
Grain
The grain is straight, rarely interlocked.
Texture
The texture is fine to very fine.
Luster
The luster is moderate.
Natural Durability
The timber is very stable, not prone to marine borer, termite or fungal attack.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
4
Silica Content
Silica Content: It contains 0.1% silica. Silica Value: 0.1
Resistance To Impregnation
The wood is reported to be impermeable to wood preservatives.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.83
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.96
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
11.7
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
3.1
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Drying is fairly easy; some difficulties could occur when drying too fast. Drying Defects: No particular risks of drying defects, subject to normal drying conditions. Kiln Schedules: Schedule proposed as a reference by comparison with well known species taking into account to the general technological behavior of this species.
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
3.8
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
1065
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
127
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
1236
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
1082
Workability
Sawing
This species saws fairly well although it is hard and heavy.
Machining
It works well with most tools despite it is hard and heavy.
Planing
It planes well but occasionally grain pick up may occur.
Nailing
It tends to split in nailing but it has good nail holding properties. Pre-boring is recommended.
Gluing
It is moderately easy to glue.
Finishing
It takes a good polish without filling.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
EXTERIOR GENERAL, poles, crossties, HOUSING GENERAL, beams, flooring, TOOLS, tool handles, CONTAINERS, cooperage, truck bodies, truck flooring, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, boats, port pillar, port storage, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, paper
Exterior General
- 1 - Tabela de resultados de ensaios fisicos e mecanicos
Poles
- 3 - Estudo dendrologico e determinacao das caracteristicas fisicas e mecanicas do genipapo (Genipa americana)
Crossties
- 8 - Maderas latinoamericas. III, Podocarpus standleyi ,Podocarpus oleifolius, Drims granadensis, Magnolia poasana y Didymopanax pittieri
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Beams
- 11 - Prospect: The wood database
Flooring
- 14 - Handbook of Hardwoods
Tools
- 42 - Utilización Industrial de Nuevas Especies Forestales en el Perú.
Tool Handles
- 43 - Maderas de Bolivia (Características y Usos de 55 Maderas Tropicales)
Containers
- 50 - Properties of imported tropical woods
Cooperage
- 51 - Recopilacion de propiedades mecanicas de maderas creciendo en Chile
Truck Body
- 53 - Timbers of the New World
Truck Flooring
- 54 - Bulletin of the Government Forest Experiment Station N.157: Identification of Tropical Woods
Shipbuilding
- 55 - Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America
Boats
- 56 - Manual de Identificación de Especies Forestales de la Subregión Andina.
Port Pillar
- 61 - Manual de Diseño para Maderas del Grupo Andino
Port Storage
- 62 - Estudio Tecnológico de Maderas del Perú (Zona Pucallpa) Vol I
Paper
- 82 - Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign woods (Part 2) Central and South America.
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