Scientific Name
Sterculia ceramica
Trade Name
Malakalumpang
Family Name
Sterculiaceae
Common Names
Malakalumpang
Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Philippines, Thailand
Common Uses
Blinds, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Figured veneer, Interior construction, Interior trim, Millwork, Moldings, Packing cases, Paneling , Plain veneer, Shutters, Sills, Trimming, Veneer, Wainscotting, Windows
Environmental Profile
| Rare | ||||||||||||
| Abundant/Secure | ||||||||||||
| Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center |
This species is officially classified as Rare within its natural habitat in Thailand. Its status in the wild is listed as unknown because of insufficient information in the Philippines
Distribution Overview
Several species in the genus Sterculia are distributed in the Malay Peninsula, Philippines, and other areas in southeast Asia.
Heartwood Color
| Purple | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Pink | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| White to cream | ||||||||||||
| Material is discolored to a silver gray or light brown when stained | ||||||||||||
| Light brown |
Sapwood Color
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| Same as heartwood |
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Straight |
| Straight |
Texture
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Spongy heart may be present. | ||||||||||||
| Coarse |
Luster
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| High |
Natural Durability
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Poor weathering properties | ||||||||||||
| Heartwoood susceptible to beetle attack |
Odor
| Has an odor |
Drying Defects
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Splitting |
Ease of Drying
| Moderately Difficult to Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Thick Stock Requires Care | ||||||||||||
| Stains easily | ||||||||||||
| Despite staining, timber seasons well |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 40-50 m | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
Comments
Leight weight, poor quality, suitable on for low-grade uses
Boring
| Fairly easy to very easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to good results |
Carving
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw | ||||||||||||
| Material is very soft and saws easily |
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Mortising
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Moulding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Nailing
| Pre-Boring Recommended | ||||||||||||
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Planing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Permeable sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant sapwood |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Responds Readily | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work | ||||||||||||
| Easy to machine | ||||||||||||
| Clean surfaces are difficult to obtain |
Routing & Recessing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Sanding
| Fair to Good Results |
Screwing
| Pre-boring recommended | ||||||||||||
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Turning
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Veneering Qualities
| Suitable for slicing | ||||||||||||
| Veneers easily | ||||||||||||
| Veneers moderately easy | ||||||||||||
| Suitable for peeling |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Strength Properties
| Resistance to denting and marring is low | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = soft | ||||||||||||
| Density = very low | ||||||||||||
| Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = low |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 4446 | 6231 | psi |
| Crushing Strength | 317 | 333 | psi |
| Density | 17 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 296 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 2188 | 3373 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 564 | psi | |
| Static Bending | 2313 | 4404 | psi |
| Stiffness | 887 | 1005 | 1000 psi |
| Toughness | 185 | inch-lbs | |
| Specific Gravity | 0.26 | 0.29 | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 312 | 438 | kg/cm2 |
| Crushing Strength | 22 | 23 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 272 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 134 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 153 | 237 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 39 | kg/cm2 | |
| Static Bending | 162 | 309 | kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness | 62 | 70 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Toughness | 213 | cm-kg |
References
Desch, H. E. 1954. Manual of Malayan Timbers – Volume II. Malayan Forest Records, No. 15. Malaysia Publishing House Ltd., Singapore.
Eddowes, P. J. 1961. Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea:Their Properties and Uses. Office of Forests, Papua New Guinea
Lauricio, F. M., Bellosillo, S. B., The Mechanical and Related Properties of Philippine Woods, The Philippine Lumber Journal, 12(5):A-H.
Schneider, E.E. 1916. Commercial Woods of the Philippines: Their Preparation and Uses. Bulletin No. 14. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Forestry, Manila, Philippines.
WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing – Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.