Scientific Name
Garcinia myrtifolia
Trade Name
Laubu
Family Name
Guttiferae
Common Names
Laubu
Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Fiji [Polynesia]
Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Decks, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Paneling, Piling, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Vehicle parts
Heartwood Color
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Brown |
Sapwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Pink | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow | ||||||||||||
| Different than heartwood |
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Closed | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Wavy |
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Wavy |
Texture
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Medium |
Natural Durability
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Non durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to marine borer attack | ||||||||||||
| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable |
Toxicity
| Some toxic effects |
Kiln Schedules
| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid |
Drying Defects
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| No twisting or warping | ||||||||||||
| Moderate twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Moderate surface checking |
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Easy |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood width is 5-10 cm |
Blunting Effect
| High to severe |
Boring
| Fairly difficult to very difficult | ||||||||||||
| Easy |
Cutting Resistance
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy |
Nailing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to nail | ||||||||||||
| Holds nails well |
Planing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Permeable sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood is permeable | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is resistant |
Resistance to Splitting
| Satisfactory |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work | ||||||||||||
| Easy to machine |
Turning
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Easy to turn | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Veneering Qualities
| Suitable for peeling | ||||||||||||
| Veneers easily | ||||||||||||
| Veneers moderately easy |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results |
Staining
| Fair to Good Results |
Strength Properties
| Max. crushing strength = high | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = small | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 10164 | 15844 | psi |
| Density | 51 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 6899 | 9945 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 2205 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1766 | 2037 | 1000 psi |
| Weight | 50 | 40 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 4 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 9 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 714 | 1113 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 817 | kg/m3 | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 485 | 699 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 155 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 124 | 143 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Weight | 801 | 641 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 4 | % |
References
Alston, A.S.,1966,Natural Heartwood Durability,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No. 2
Alston, A.S.,1966,Powder Post Beetle Lyctus Species,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.6
Bolza, E., Kloot, N.H.,1972,The Mechanical Properties of 56 Fijian Timbers,Australia C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper,No.,62
Fiji Department of Forestry,1969,A Summary of the Properties of 34 Indigenous Timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.38
Fiji Department of Forestry,1972,Guide to the use of local timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.55
Fiji Forestry Department,1967,The Properties and Potential Uses of Laubu (Garcinia myrtifolia) A Summary,of C.S.I.R.O. Investigations,Fiji Timbers and Their Uses No.17, Department of Forestry, Suva, Fiji
Fiji Forestry Department,1969,Timbers for Flooring A Note on Current & Potential Species,Fiji Timbers and their Uses No.36, Department of Forestry, Suva, Fiji
Fiji Forestry Department,1981,The Properties and Uses of 43 Indigenous and Exotic Timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Fiji Timbers and their Uses No.71
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