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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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