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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 Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Scientific Name Lagerstroemia tomentosa Trade Name Bang-lang Family Name Lythraceae Common Names Bang-lang, Kamaungthwe, Leza, Leza wood, Pyinmapyu, Salao, Sralao Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Burma, India Common Uses Boat building: framing, Chairs, Door, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Paneling, Plywood, Poles, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Structural work, Tool handles, Vehicle parts Distribution Overview Indo-Malayan region including Indochina and extending into Indonesia and the Philippines; along rivers and on moist flat land; often cultivated as an ornamental. Heartwood Color Yellow Brown Purple Green/grey Orange Reddish brown Pale red to pink Dark brown Sapwood Color Brown Yellow White to yellow Different than heartwood Grain Even Straight Figure Distinct (figure) Straight Distinct figure Texture Medium Fine Fine Fine to medium Luster Medium Low Lustrous Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Durable Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Internal Honeycombing Possible Distortion Collapse Checking Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Rapidly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is highly resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Pre-boring recommended Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Staining Fair to Good Results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Hardness (side grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Volumetric = very small Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10643 16517 psi Density 40 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1326 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5706 8526 psi Shearing Strength 1989 psi Stiffness 1347 1563 1000 psi Weight 39 31 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Volumetric Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 748 1161 kg/cm2 Density 641 kg/m3 Hardness 601 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 401 599 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 139 kg/cm2 Stiffness 94 109 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 624 496 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % References Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Gamble, J.S.,1902,A Manual of Indian Timbers,Sampson Low, Marston & Co. London Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Limaye, V.D.,1957,Grouping of Indian Timbers and Their Properties, Uses and Suitability.,Indian Forest Records (N.S. Timber Mechanics Vol.1 No.2) Pearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 vols Purkayastha, S.K.,1982,Indian woods: Their identifications, properties and uses, Vol. IV,Myrlacene to Symploceae,Controller of Publications, New Delhi Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Sono, P.,1974,Merchantable Timbers of Thailand.,Forest Products Research Division, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok,,Thailand.