Commercial timbers

H. G. Richter and M. J. Dallwitz


Shorea spp., subg. Anthoshorea (White meranti, melapi)

Nomenclature etc. DIPTEROCARPACEAE. S. assamica, S. bracteolata, S. dealbata, S. hypochra, S. javanica, S. lamellata etc. Trade and local names: white meranti (MAL, RI, Handel); meranti putih, kayu tahan (RI); melapi (MAL-Sab, RI-Kal); white lauan (RP); lumbor (K); khiem kha norng, takhian-sai, chai, pa-nong (T); bo-bo (VN).

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

General. Growth ring boundaries indistinct or absent. Heartwood basically yellow white or grey. Sapwood colour similar to heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity 0.45–0.67–0.85 g/cm³.

Vessels. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels in multiples, commonly short (2–3 vessels) radial rows. Average tangential vessel diameter (170–)230–270 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 4–9. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 5–7 µm, vestured. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders or with reduced borders or apparently simple, similar to intervessel pits, rounded or angular. Tyloses in vessels present, thinwalled.

Tracheids and fibres. Vascular or vasicentric tracheids commonly present. Fibres very thin-walled, or of medium wall thickness. Fibre pits mainly restricted to radial walls, simple to minutely bordered. Fibres non-septate.

Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma in some species banded or not banded. Axial parenchyma bands not marginal (or seemingly marginal), fine, up to three cells wide. Axial parenchyma paratracheal. Paratracheal axial parenchyma vasicentric, or aliform, or confluent. Aliform parenchyma winged. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand 4–6.

Rays. Rays 4–7 per tangential mm, multiseriate, also if only few, (2–)3–4 cells wide. 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.

Storied structures. Storied structure present, axial parenchyma storied.

Secretory structures. Intercellular canals present, axial type, in long tangential lines or in short tangential lines.

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


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