Search for

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 Boring Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Garcinia myrtifolia Trade Name Laubu Family Name Guttiferae Common Names Laubu Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Fiji [Polynesia] Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Decks, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Paneling, Piling, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Vehicle parts Heartwood Color Yellow Red Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Sapwood Color White Pink Yellow White to yellow Different than heartwood Grain Even Closed Straight Wavy Straight Wavy Texture Fine Medium Natural Durability Durable Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Perishable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to termites Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Non durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to marine borer attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Moderately durable Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Drying Defects Distortion No twisting or warping Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Easy Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Blunting Effect High to severe Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Easy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to nail Holds nails well Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Satisfactory Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to turn Good results Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Staining Fair to Good Results Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10164 15844 psi Density 51 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 6899 9945 psi Shearing Strength 2205 psi Stiffness 1766 2037 1000 psi Weight 50 40 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 714 1113 kg/cm2 Density 817 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 485 699 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 155 kg/cm2 Stiffness 124 143 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 801 641 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References Alston, A.S.,1966,Natural Heartwood Durability,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No. 2 Alston, A.S.,1966,Powder Post Beetle Lyctus Species,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.6 Bolza, E., Kloot, N.H.,1972,The Mechanical Properties of 56 Fijian Timbers,Australia C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper,No.,62 Fiji Department of Forestry,1969,A Summary of the Properties of 34 Indigenous Timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.38 Fiji Department of Forestry,1972,Guide to the use of local timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.55 Fiji Forestry Department,1967,The Properties and Potential Uses of Laubu (Garcinia myrtifolia) A Summary,of C.S.I.R.O. Investigations,Fiji Timbers and Their Uses No.17, Department of Forestry, Suva, Fiji Fiji Forestry Department,1969,Timbers for Flooring A Note on Current & Potential Species,Fiji Timbers and their Uses No.36, Department of Forestry, Suva, Fiji Fiji Forestry Department,1981,The Properties and Uses of 43 Indigenous and Exotic Timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Fiji Timbers and their Uses No.71 Keating, W.G., Bolza, E.,1982,Characteristics properties and uses of timbers. South East Asia, Northern,Australia and the Pacific,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Chemical Technology,Inkata Press,1