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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. Boring Carving Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Litsea reticulata Trade Name Medang Family Name Lauraceae Common Names Batikuling, Boi loi, Bolly gum, Bollywood, Medang, Medang padang, Ondon Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam Common Uses Balusters, Building construction, Building materials, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Moldings, Office furniture, Plain veneer, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Tables , Utility furniture, Veneer, Wardrobes, Woodwork Environmental Profile The environmental status of this species within its natural boundaries is currently unknown since it has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Found in the scrubwood forests of New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. Heartwood Color The heartwood is pale brown to yellowish-pink in color, occasionally with dark streaks. Sapwood Color Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Closed Straight Wavy Wavy Generally straight, but not always Texture Fine Coarse Uniform Fine Luster Medium Wood surfaces which are initially lustrous are reported to dull upon exposure. Natural Durability Moderately durable Non-resistant to marine borers Natural resistance to decay is variable, and the sapwood is highly susceptible to attack by boring insects Odor Some Litsea timbers are scented and others have an unpleasant odor when green but the smell disappears after seasoning Toxicity Sawdust produced from machining operations may cause skin irritation in some individuals. Kiln Schedules Table No. 513, Schedule Code (52-35); U Drying Defects Splitting Checking Ease of Drying Slowly Rapidly Seasons well with little degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries quickly Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trees of Litsea species are described as small to medium in size, reaching heights of up to 40 feet (12 m), with trunk diameters of 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) Boring Fairly easy to very easy Carving Litsea timbers are favored for carving in the Philippines Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Softwood can be easily treated The heartwood of Litsea timbers responds poorly to preservative treatment. Response to Hand Tools Responds well Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Litsea timbers work readily in planing, turning, boring, moulding, mortising, and most machining operations. Response to ordinary tools is rather good Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7252 10682 psi Crushing Strength 496 784 psi Density 30 lbs/ft3 Hardness 588 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3430 5743 psi Shearing Strength 1632 psi Static Bending 4302 7556 psi Stiffness 1343 1666 1000 psi Toughness 81 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.36 Weight 30 24. lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 509 751 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 34 55 kg/cm2 Density 480 kg/m3 Hardness 266 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 241 403 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 114 kg/cm2 Static Bending 302 531 kg/cm2 Stiffness 94 117 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 93 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.36 Weight 480 384. kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Bolza, E. and N.H. Kloot. 1963. The Mechanical Properties of 174 Australian Timbers. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper No. 25, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Australia, Melbourne. Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Kloot, N.H. and E. Bolza. 1961. Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper No. 12. Commonwealth scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia Wallis, N.K. 1956. Australian Timber Handbook. Sponsored by The Timber Development Association of Australia. Angus & Robertson, Ltd., 89 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, Australia.