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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Buxus sempervirens Trade Name Boxwood Family Name Buxaceae Common Names Abassian boxwood, Assame-tsuge, Bois commun, Box, Boxwood, Chikri, Circassian boxwood, Common box, European boxwood, Indian boxwood, Iranian boxwood, Japanese box, North African boxwood, Papar, Paprang, Papri, Persian boxwood, Shamshad, Shanda laghune, Shibsashin, Shumaj, True box, Turkey boxwood, Turkish boxwood Regions of Distribution Africa, Eastern Europe, Mediterranean Sea Region, Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom Common Uses Bearings & bushings, Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chessmen, Croquet mallets, Engraving, Handles: general, Inlay work, Ladders, Mathematical instruments, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Plywood, Rulers, Shade rollers, Shuttles, Sporting Goods, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Native to a few locations in Southern England and distributed though Southern Europe, N.Africa and Western Asia. Prefers chalk and limestone slopes sometimes with Beech. Europe, excluding the Mediterranean, except for the Mediterranean region including N. Africa and Middle East. Also in temperate Asia and India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The species occurs as an understory tree in mixed stands with Beech and is highly tolerant of shade. Heartwood Color Yellow Red Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Yellowish white White to cream Red Brown Sapwood Color Yellow Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Figure Straight Other (figure) Crossed Even Growth rings (figure) Spiral Irregular Straight Other figure Straight to irregular Spiral Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Medium Fine Fine and even The wood is hard and heavy Luster Medium Pronounced Lustrous Natural Durability Durable Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles No natural resistance Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Although Boxwood has little or no natural resistance to decay, it is usually used under conditions where there is very little risk of attack by decay-causing organisms. Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Respiratory effects Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2 Schedule B (4/4) United Kingdom Drying Defects Checking Distortion Moderate end spitting Severe surface checking Severe end-splitting Slight surface checking Moderate surface checking Moderate splitting Drying the timber at a rapid rate may cause it to split Ease of Drying Difficult Requires slow drying to prevent end splitting Dries moderately well under controlled conditions Satisfactory results from kiln-drying are possible with some care, although reports indicate that Boxwood was typically cut into billets and stored in boxes of sawdust to dry. Tree Identification Bole/stem form is misshapen Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree height is 10-20 m Product Sources Supplies of Boxwood are very limited, and its price is rather high. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Gernerally only available in small sizes Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing is moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Easy to glue Good properties Movement in Service Stable Small Good stability after seasoning Nailing Possible if prebored Pre-boring is recommended to avoid splitting Holds nails well Planing Ease of planing is moderate Difficult to plane Boxwood is rather hard to work in most operations. Smooth surfaces are typically difficult to achieve in material with highly irregular grain, and sanding is usually required after machining. Resistance to Impregnation Preservative treatment is generally unnecessary The typical uses of Boxwood are reported to make treatment with chemical preservatives unnecessary. Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Difficult to machine Moderate working qualities Sanding Required after machining Screwing Possible if prebored Screwing yields good results Turning Good results Good results Easy to turn The wood is well suited for both plain and ornamental turnery work. Steam Bending Good Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Staining Finish is generally good Clear finish recommended Clear finishes are recommended in order to preserve the unique color of Boxwood Strength Properties Dnesity (dry wieght) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu.ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = large Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Very heavy Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Hardness (side grain) = very hard Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13576 20956 psi Density 55 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2940 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6899 9945 psi Shearing Strength 2205 psi Stiffness 2167 2494 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.83 Weight 55 45 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 954 1473 kg/cm2 Density 881 kg/m3 Hardness 1333 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 485 699 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 155 kg/cm2 Stiffness 152 175 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.83 Weight 881 721 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % References Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 6 Europe,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No.5 Philippines and Japan,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods - Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Findlay, W.P.K.,1975,Timber: Properties and Uses,Crosby Lockwood Staples London,224PP Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment Harrar, E.S.,1942,Some Physical Properties of Modern Cabinet Woods 3. Directional and Volume,Shrinkage,Tropical Woods,9(71, pp26-32 HMSO. 1985. Broadleaves. Forestry Commission Booklet No. 20. Text by H.E. Edlin. Revised by A.F. Mitchell. Forestry Commission, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1992. Good Wood Handbook - The Wood worker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. HarperCollins Publishers, London Kline, M. 1977. Buxus sempervirens - Boxwood. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 77-78. Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 Kribbs, D.A. 1959. Commercial Foreign Woods on the American Market. Buckhout Lab., Dept. of Botany, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania. Laidlaw, W.B.R. 1960. Guide to British Hardwoods. Published by Leonard Hill [Books] Limited, 9 Eden Street, N.W.1, London. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California. Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Stone, H.,1924,The Timbers of Commerce and their Identification,William Rider & Sons Ltd. London Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition