Commercial timbers

H. G. Richter and M. J. Dallwitz


Scaphium macropodum (Miq.) Beumée ex K. Heyne (Kembang semangkok)

Nomenclature etc. STERCULIACEAE. + Scaphium borneensis, S. linearicarpum, S. longiflorum, S. longipetiolatum, S.scaphigerum. Trade and local names: Kembang semangkok (MAL); kapas-kapasan, merpayang (RI); shaw taung-thinbow (BUR); phungtalai, samrong (T).

Tree. Geographic distribution: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indomalesia.

General. Growth ring boundaries distinct or indistinct or absent, growth ring limits, if distinct, demarcated by marginal parenchyma. Heartwood basically brown. Sapwood colour similar to heartwood colour, or distinct from heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity 0.52–0.76–0.8 g/cm³.

Vessels. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels in multiples, commonly short (2–3 vessels) radial rows. Average tangential vessel diameter 190–270 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 2–4. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 6–7 µm. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders, similar to intervessel pits.

Tracheids and fibres. Fibres very thin-walled, or of medium wall thickness. Average fibre length 800–1400 µm. Fibre pits mainly restricted to radial walls, simple to minutely bordered.

Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma banded. Axial parenchyma bands marginal (or seemingly marginal), fine, up to three cells wide. Axial parenchyma paratracheal. Paratracheal axial parenchyma aliform, or confluent. Aliform parenchyma winged. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand 4.

Rays. Rays 5–7 per tangential mm, multiseriate, also if only few, (1–)6–17 cells wide. Rays of two distinct sizes. Height of large rays commonly over 1000 µm. Rays composed of two or more cell types. Heterocellular rays square and upright cells restricted to marginal rows. Number of marginal rows of upright or square cells 1. Sheath cells present.

Storied structures. Storied structure present, some rays storied, some not, axial parenchyma storied, vessel elements storied, fibres storied. Except largest rays all elements storied.

Mineral inclusions. Crystals not observed. Silica present, as grains, in rays cells and in axial parenchyma.


Cite this publication as: H. G. Richter and M. J. Dallwitz (2000 onwards). 'Commercial timbers: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval.' In English, French, German, and Spanish. Version: 4th May 2000. http://biodiversity.uno.edu/delta/.

Dallwitz (1980) and Dallwitz, Paine and Zurcher (1993 onwards, 1995 onwards, 1998) should also be cited (see General references).

Index