Shorea Leptoclados (Light red meranti)

Scientific Name
Shorea leptoclados

Trade Name
Light red meranti

Family Name
Dipterocarpaceae

Common Names
Almon, Lanan, Light red lauan, Light red meranti, Light red seraya, Mayapis, Meranti bunga, Perawan, White lauan

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines

Common Uses
Balusters, Bedroom suites, Bent Parts, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concrete formwork, Construction, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Fine furniture, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Moldings, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Radio – stereo – TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Sub-flooring, Utility furniture, Wardrobes

Environmental Profile

Distribution Overview
Species in the Light red meranti or Light red lauan group in Shorea genus are distributed in the Malayan Peninsula, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sabah and the Sarawak. The trees are usually found growing in well-drained soils at low altitudes.

Heartwood Color

Sapwood Color

Grain

Texture

Luster

Natural Durability

Odor

Resin Content

Toxicity

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying

Kiln Drying Rate

Tree Size

Product Sources
Shorea genus is a major timber source in international trade. They are plentiful, and supplies are universally available, especially in the form of veneers. This popular wood is typically priced in the inexpensive range.

Many species in the Shorea genera are also a source of other economically important non-timber products. Seeds of some species yield fat which is used in the manufacture of chocolate. Others produce nuts, the most common of which is the illipe nuts of commerce produced by S. gysbertisiana . The nuts yield a fat which is similar to cocoa-butter in some of its properties. Shorea trees are also tapped for oleo-resin, and typical dammar is obtained from S. wiesneri which grows in Java and Sumatra. The tree of S. robusta produces dammar which is used as a disinfectant and as incense in religious ceremonies in India. Other non-timber products from Shorea are reported to include tannin and fibers.

Certified Source

Blunting Effect

Boring

Carving

Cutting Resistance

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

Movement in Service

Nailing

Planing

The timber exudes resin and oil but they do not interfere with machining operations

Resistance to Impregnation

Response to Hand Tools

Routing & Recessing

Sanding

Screwing

Turning

Veneering Qualities

Steam Bending

Painting

Polishing

Staining

Varnishing

Strength Properties

Numerical Data

References
Arno, J. 1988. Shorea spp. – Luan. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 329-330.

Chowdhury, K.A. and S.S. Ghosh. 1958. Indian Woods – Their Identification, Properties and Uses, Volume I – Dilleniaceae to Elaeocarpaceae. Published by the Manager of Publications, Delhi, India.

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Kaiser, J. Wood of the Month: Meranti – The Hardworking Import. Wood & Wood Products, May 1991. Page 48.

Lavers, G.M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London.

Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.

USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook – Wood as an Engineering Material. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 72, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.