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