Some physical properties of Lumnitzera littorea and Sonneratia alba from Bagan Lalang mangrove strip
2008
Ani, S. | Nordahlia, A.S. | Mohd Nasir, H.(eds.), Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), 52109 Kepong, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).
Lumnitzera littorea or commonly known as teruntum merah belongs to the family Combretaceae and Sonneratia alba or perepat to Sonneratiaceae. They were found growing very near to the sea shore of Bagan Lalang within the mangrove strip, and the present study is an attempt to highlight their potential uses. The study was based on 5cm discs taken at diameter breast height (DBH) of the two species. The air dry density of Lumnitzera littorea ranged from 751- 805 kgm-3. The wood is hard and heavy, the sapwood not well defined and is lighter in colour than the heartwood, which is light grey-brown. The texture is very fine and even, grain straight to shallowly interlocked. The moisture content ofLumnitzera littorea ranged from 58-76%. Its tangential shrinkage is rated as average (2.3%), radial shrinkage as average (1.9%) and longitudinal shrinkage as low (0.5%). The wood of Sonneratia alba is moderately hard and moderately heavy with density range of 64 5- 689 kgm--:3. The sapwood is light pale-brown and not sharply defined from the heartwood which is pale brown. Texture is fine and even, grain straight to slightly interlocked. The moisture content of Sonneratia alba ranged from 67-73% and shrinkage on the tangential face was rated as average (2.5%),radial as average (1.5%) and longitudinal as low (0.7%). Based on the above physical properties, Sonneratia alba may be suitable for general utility timber, planking, flooring and furniture components. As the tree of Lumnitzera littorea is not well-formed or straight, this limited its potential uses as sawn timber. However, this timber should also be suitable for flooring, interior finishing, panelling, skirtings, mouldings, furniture components, and door and window frames, wooden pallets and packing crates.
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