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 Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Alstonia angustifolia Trade Name Alstonia mergalang Family Name Apocynaceae Common Names Alstonia mergalang, Basong, Dita, Mergalang, Milkwood, Milky pine, Mo cua, Pulai, Shaitan wood, White cheesewood Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] India, Malaysia, Philippines Common Uses Baskets, Boxes and crates, Carvings, Casks, Decorative plywood, Food containers, General carpentry, Matchboxes, Matches, Packing cases, Plywood, Woodwork Environmental Profile Questionable Extinct Endangered Status unknown in many of its growth areas Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within its range Distribution Overview Likely grows in the Indo-Malayan region, Australia, and/or Polynesia. Heartwood Color White Brown Yellow Red Yellowish white Pale brown Sapwood Color White Brown Yellow Red Green/Grey Straw colored to grayish-white Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Straight Interlocked Interlocked Generally straight, but not always Texture Medium Fine Coarse Medium to coarse Fine to medium Luster High Medium Lustrous High Natural Durability Perishable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Vulnerable to attack by powder-post beetles susceptible to sap stain Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules T10 - D4S (4/4)US Ease of Drying Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Fairly Easy Little degrade Little degrade if dried properly Easy Dries at a fairly rapid rate Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Comments Large slit-like canals containing latex are usually present Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fair to good results Good (75+ pieces out of 100 will yield good to excellent results) Carving Fair to Good Results Good results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Low resistance to sawing Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moderate gluing properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Finishes well Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good moulding properties Nailing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Good planing properties Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Responds well to hand tools Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good screw holding properties Turning Fair to Good Results Good results Strength Properties Hardness (side grain) = soft Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low Medium density Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5027 7699. psi Density 25 lbs/ft3 Hardness 451 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 2734 4382. psi Stiffness 882 1042. 1000 psi Toughness 175 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.3 Weight 25 20. lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 353 541. kg/cm2 Density 400 kg/m3 Hardness 204 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 192 308. kg/cm2 Stiffness 62 73. 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 201 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.3 Weight 400 320. kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.