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 Numerical Data Odor Planing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Alstonia spatulata 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] Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand 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 significant parts of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Known status applies to Indonesia (Java). Unknown status pertains to Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Sabah, Sarawak, and the Malaysian Peninsula Distribution Overview Other species in this group are distributed throughout the Indo-Malayan region, Australia, and Polynesia. Heartwood Color White Brown Yellow Red Whitish Pale brown Sapwood Color White Brown Yellow Red Tan White to yellow Tan to brown in color Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Straight Interlocked Occasionally interlocked, but not always Generally straight, but not always Texture Medium Fine Fine to medium Luster High Medium Lustrous High Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules T10 - D4S (4/4) US/T10 - D4S (4/4) U Ease of Drying Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Fairly Easy Easy Dries at a fairly rapid rate Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that an occasional source for timber production and exportation. Comments Large silt-like canals containing latex are present Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on sawing green wood is mild Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fair to good results Sharp cutting edges are required Carving Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to carve Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Low resistance to sawing Cutting edges are dulled rapidly 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 Sharp surfaces are required Good planing properties Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Very sharp cutting edges are required to produce a smooth surface 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 Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Poor Strength Properties Hardness (side grain) = soft Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5356 7330 psi Density 25 lbs/ft3 Hardness 451 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 2896 4469 psi Stiffness 911 1039 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.3 Weight 25 20. lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 376 515 kg/cm2 Density 400 kg/m3 Hardness 204 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 203 314 kg/cm2 Stiffness 64 73 1000 kg/cm2 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. Desch, H. E. 1957. Manual of Malayan Timbers - Volume I. Malayan Forest Records, No. 15. Malaya Publishing House Ltd., Singapore. Keating, W.G., Bolza, E.,1982,Characteristics properties and uses of timbers. South East Asia, Northern,Australia and the Pacific,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Chemical Technology,Inkata Press,1 WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.