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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 Boring Carving Certified Source Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Alstonia scholaris Trade Name White cheesewood Family Name Apocynaceae Common Names Agera, Aitonga, Aitonga kengeri, Alipaoen, Alstonia mergalang, Ampalai, Andaragan, Andauyan, Angar, Basong, Bengui, Bintang, Bintihung, Bita, Blackboard tree, Boava, Bomudu, Bua, Chaile, Chalain, Chatia, Chatian, Chatiana, Chatinn, Chatiun, Chatiyan, Chatni, Chattinn, Chatwan, Chhatian, Chhatiana, Chhatim, Dakan, Dalipaoen, Devil-tree, Dirita, Dita, Ditaa, Eda-kula, Elilaippalai, Erlila palei, Ezhilam-pala, Gabus, Gabusan, Gogodu, Gogudu, Goti, Hale, Hambaga, Hambara, Hange, Jelentik, Kadusale, Kamanglit, Kasidula, Kenumau, Kenummau, Kodale, Kubita, Kunumung, Lame, Lationj, Leleko, Lete, Lettok, Lingaru, Linog, Loi, Madale, Maiyanghkao, Manakat, Mantoti, Mergalang, Milkwood, Milkwood pine, Milky, Milky pine, Mo cua, Moi, Mudhol, Mukampala, Mukampalei, Mukkam palei, New Guinea cheesewood, Pala, Palimira alstonia, Pela, Pelai, Pelaik, Pelantan, Pelawai, Pera, Polay, Pulai, Pulai bukit, Pule, Puli, Purbo, Rita, Rukattana, Sambara, Saptaparni, Satiana, Satiani, Satiun, Satni, Sattni, Satwin, Scholar-tree, Setaka, Shaitan, Shaitan wood, Suala, Susu, Susuh, Taba'a, Takno, Talanggilala, Tamba, Tangovo, Tanovo, Taungmeok, Taungsaga, Tiengped, Tongkoya, Tuturan, White cheese wood, White cheesewood, Wodrase Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, Bangladesh, Burma, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Coffins, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Drawing boards, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Shipbuilding, Stair rails, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Sub-flooring, Tables , Turnery, Utility furniture, Vats, Veneer, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Rare Extinct Endangered Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Insufficient information in China, Myanmar or Burma, India, Papua New Guinea, and Queensland, Australia Distribution Overview Wide occurrence in the Asia-Pacific region from India and Sri Lanka through mainland South-East Asia and southern China, throughout Malaysia to northern Australia and the Solomon Islands. Introduced to southern USA where it is grown as an ornamental. Tolerant of a variety of soils and habitats, it can be found as a small tree growing on coral or as a canopy species in inland primary or secondary forests. Most common in lowland coastal areas with annual rainfall of 1000-3800 mm but is found in up to 1000 m in altitude. Heartwood Color White Yellow Orange Brown Red Pink White to cream Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Pinkish white Sapwood Color White Yellow Red Green/Grey Tan Brown Color not distinct from heartwood White to yellow Tan to brown in color Straw colored to grayish-white Paler than heartwood Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Straight Figure Interlocked Weak (figure) Distinct (figure) Growth rings (figure) Closed Even Wavy Generally straight, but not always Interlocked Weak figure Distinct figure Clear growth rings (figure) Wavy Texture Medium Fine Coarse Fine to medium Medium Medium to coarse Fine Luster Medium Low Lustrous Low Natural Growth Defects Yellowish deposits in vessels Latex or other ducts Natural Durability Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to termites Resistant to termites Non-resistant to termites Moderately durable Susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Non durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Perishable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Vulnerable to attack by powder-post beetles Susceptible to attack by marine borers and termites Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) No natural resistance Moderately durable Easily stained Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Unspecified toxicity Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying (speed) is fast Uk=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 T10 - D4S (4/4)US Schedule H; United Kingdom Drying Defects Discoloration Checking Splitting Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Variable Moderately Difficult to Difficult Little degrade Easy Variable results. Little degrade if dried properly Dries at a fairly rapid rate Local conditions create variabilty in drying. Timber from Myanmar (Burma) requires special attention to prevent staining, material from Southeast Asia dries rapidly and easily with little or no degrade Kiln Drying Rate Rapid Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Naturally dries quickly Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bark width is 25-30 mm Tree height is 10-20 m Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Starch commonly occurs throughout the cross-section of the living parenchyma, which occupies up to the center of large trunks. The wood exudes large quantities of the milky liquid and latex canals may affect the appearance of the timber Blunting Effect Little Moderate There is some significant blunting effect on cutting tools Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Sharp cutting edges are required Good (75+ pieces out of 100 will yield good to excellent results) Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Low resistance to sawing Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting edges are dulled rapidly Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good mortising properties Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good moulding properties Good finishing results Easy to mould Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Tends to split during nailing Pre-boring recommended Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to plane Sharp surfaces are required Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is permeable Sapwood is permeable Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Pre-boring recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Recommend pre-boring Difficult to screw Turning < Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to turn