Commercial timbers

H. G. Richter and M. J. Dallwitz


Anthocephalus chinensis Rich. (Kadam)

Nomenclature etc. RUBIACEAE (NAUCLEACEAE). Syn. Anthocephalus cadamba Miq., A. indicus A. Rich. Trade and local names: Kadam (MAL, trade); jabon, kelampai, sugi manai (RI); laran (MAL-Sab); selimpoh, sempayan (MAL-Swk); kaatoan bangkal (RP); gao (VN); mau-lettan-she (BUR). Status of protection under CITES regulations: not protected.

Tree. Geographic distribution: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indomalesia (cultivated worldwide in tropical regions).

General. Heartwood basically yellow white or grey. Sapwood colour similar to heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity (0.29–)0.35–0.55 g/cm³.

Vessels. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels arranged in no specific pattern, in multiples, commonly short (2–3 vessels) radial rows (-2). Average tangential vessel diameter (90–)120–150(–220) µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 4–11. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 5–7 µm, vestured. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders, similar to intervessel pits. Tyloses in vessels present (sparse), thinwalled. Other deposits in heartwood vessels very little present (yellowish).

Tracheids and fibres. Fibres very thin-walled, or of medium wall thickness. Average fibre length (900–)1200–1400–1980 µm. Fibre pits common in both radial and tangential walls, simple to minutely bordered or distinctly bordered. Fibres only A. macrophylla septate and non-septate, or non-septate (A. chinensis). Septate fibres evenly distributed.

Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma present, banded. Axial parenchyma bands reticulate, fine, up to three cells wide. Axial parenchyma apotracheal. Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse-in-aggregates. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand 8–12.

Rays. Rays (5–)7–13 per tangential mm, multiseriate, also if only few, 1–8 cells wide. Rays of two distinct sizes. 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, or 2–4. Disjunctive ray parenchyma end walls distinct.

Mineral inclusions. Crystals present, only in some specimens, and very few in form of crystal sand, located in ray cells. Crystal-containing ray cells upright and/or square. Silica not observed.

Miscellaneous. • Transverse section. Anthocephalus chinensis. • Tangential section. Anthocephalus chinensis. • Radial section. Anthocephalus chinensis. • Wood structure details. Anthocephalus chinensis. Micro crystals in square/upright ray cells. Disjunctive endwalls of square/upright ray cells frequent.


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).

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