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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. Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Scientific Name Laurelia novae-zelandiae Trade Name Pukatea Family Name Monimiaceae Common Names Pukatea Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] New Zealand Common Uses Boat building, Building construction, Building materials, Clogs, Construction, Flooring, Framing, Light construction, Specialty items, Wharf construction, Wooden shoes Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Widely distributed in small quantities in the North Island forests of New Zealand. It is rarely found or is localized near the coast to the extreme north on the South Island. It grows from sea level to elevations of up to 2000 feet (60 m) on the North Island, and elevations of up to 500 feet (15 m) on the South Island. The species is intolerant of drought and thrives only in areas with well distributed annual rainfall. It prefers to grow mainly on fertile alluvial soils near swamps, and is also often found in damp, shaded gullies and ravines. Since it prefers persistently damp soils, the species occurs primarily in the forests of limestone hills in high rainfall regions, and on pumice soils which retain moisture. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Green/grey Red Orange Purple Greyish brown Greenish tinge Attractive dark wavy streaks Sapwood Color Red Brown Yellow Brownish white Grain Even Figure Straight Growth rings (figure) Rays (figure) Rays figure Generally straight, but not always Clear growth rings (figure) Rays produce a flecked figure on quarter-sawn surfaces. Growth rings are well defined by the darker latewood. Texture Medium Fine Even textured Luster Low Cloudy silver luster Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Sapwood has very little or no resistance to decay Moderately resistant to attack by marine borers Durable above ground, but is low in resistance to decay with ground contact. The wood is immune from attack by Lyctus, and is rarely attacked by Anobium Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Radial shrinkage is generally 2.2% Tangential shrinkage is generally 6.5% Volumetric shrinkage is around 7.8% Drying Defects The timber dries without degrade, except a tendency for incipient decay to spread Ease of Drying Stock with a thickness of inch (2.5 cm) air-seasons in 6 to 9 months with little degrade. Kiln-drying is not recommended since it is uneconomically slow. Tree Size The tree is described as tall, handsome and heavily buttressed. It attains a height of about 100 feet (30 m), sometimes but rarely 120 feet (37 m).Trunk diameter above buttresses is usually 24 to 36 inches (60 to 90 cm), and is rarely up to 60 inches (150 cm) Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw The timber saws without difficulty Nailing Nails close to ends without splitting Planing Planing and other machining operations are generally easy, but worked surfaces of wood which are not air-dried properly tend to be rough Resistance to Impregnation Both sapwood and heartwood are moderately easy to treat with preservatives. Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Painting Good results Its fine and even texture accepts finishes well without filling Strength Properties In the green condition, Pukatea is low in bending strength and stiffness, but is above normal (relative to its density) in the same properties when dry. It is reported to dent instead of break on impact, and is described as a light-weight hardwood, that is easily sawn, dried, and nailed. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 4077 11535 psi Crushing Strength 284 608 psi Hardness 583 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 2489 4753 psi Shearing Strength 1063 psi Static Bending 2548 6968 psi Stiffness 715 1666 1000 psi Toughness 37 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.34 0.39 Weight 58 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 286 811 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 19 42 kg/cm2 Hardness 264 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 174 334 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 74 kg/cm2 Static Bending 179 489 kg/cm2 Stiffness 50 117 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 42 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.34 0.39 References Meylan, B.A. and B.G. Butterfield. 1978. The Structure of New Zealand Woods. DSIR Bulletin 222. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Published by Science Information Division, P. O. Box 9741, Wellington, New Zealand. New Zealand Forest Service. 1957. Forest Trees and Timbers of New Zealand. Bulletin No. 12, New Zealand Forest Service. Compiled under the Direction of A.R. Entrican by H.V. Hinds and J.S. Reid. Governemnt Printer, Wellington, New Zealand.