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STERCULIA (Sterculia ceramica)
Trade Name
Sterculia
Scientific Name
Sterculia ceramica R. Br.
Family
STERCULIACEAE
Common Names
Balindagat (Philippines); Biris (Malaysia); Komong dowong (Indonesia); Kafialwatan (Indonesia); Lui (Indonesia); Uos (Philippines); Malakalumpang (Philippines); Biris (Sarawak)
Scientific Name Synonyms
Sterculia luzonica Warb.
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
It is a medium-sized tree up to 24 m tall, with boles up to 40 cm in diameter.
Natural Habitat
Sterculia ceramica occurs in primary forests, also near the coast, up to 1,000 m of altitude.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 200 micras or more (large). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to intervessel pits in size and shape. Intervessel pits small, 7 micras or less. Axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse and/or diffuse in aggregates. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Axial parenchyma aliform. Axial parenchyma confluent. Axial parenchyma stor Rays of two distinct sizes. Ray height more than 1 mm. Sheath cells. Body ray cells procumbent with mostly 2 to 4 rows of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-II). Fibers very thin walled. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits. Fibers storied.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Odor
It has no distinctive odor or taste.
Color
The heartwood is straw-colored, grayish-white to sometimes pale brown or pale pinkish-brown, and not distinctly demarcated from the paler sapwood.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
6
Grain
The grain is straight to shallowly interlocked.
Texture
A coarse texture is reported in this species.
Natural Durability
The wood is rated as non-durable in contact with the ground or exposed to the weather. It is easily attacked by pinhole borers, powder-post beetles, termites and marine borers.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
5
Resistance To Impregnation
It is easy to moderately difficult to treat with preservatives. The heartwood is impermeable due to tyloses.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.31
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.32
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
6.2
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
3.7
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Drying is moderately difficult to difficult; special care is systematically needed. Drying Defects: Risks of checks and distortions. Kiln Schedules: Schedule proposed as a reference by comparison with well known species taking into account to the general technological behavior of this species.
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
JP-26
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.7
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
448
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
72043
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
245
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
31
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
41
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
137
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
199
Workability
Sawing
Sawing of this species is reported to be rather easy.
Rotary Veneer Cutting
This species is reported to have good characteristics for lamination.
Sliced Veneer
This species is reported to have good characteristics for lamination.
Machining
Wood processing is reported to be good to fair.
Planing
Planing operations are rather easy, but a cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended to reduce tearing.
Moulding
It is a brittle wood, it is not recommended for molding.
Boring
Boring is reported to be difficult.
Mortising
Mortising of this species is reported to be difficult.
Nailing
The wood is brittle and the nail holding properties are poor.
Gluing
Gluing behavior is satisfactory.
Sanding
This species is reported to be easy to sand.
Staining
Staining of this species is reportedly easy.
Polishing
It requires filler.
Steam Bending
This species is difficult to bend.
Response To Hand Tools
Response to hand tools is reported to be good, but it often gives woolly surfaces.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, shutter boards, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, PACKING, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, shoes
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Shutter Boards
- 20 - Prospect: The wood database
Panels, Veneers
- 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Packing
- 45 - Recopilación y Análisis de Estudios Tecnológicos de Maderas Peruanas
Shipbuilding
- 55 - Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America
Shoes
- 70 - Proprietes physiques et mecaniques des bois tropicaux de l`union francaise
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