Anisoptera Costata (Mersawa)

Scientific Name
Anisoptera costata

Trade Name
Mersawa

Family Name
Dipterocarpaceae

Common Names
Ansiopi, Armaniuri, Asomba, Bak, Baligan, Baoti, Baripung, Baurai, Berua, Cha wa ta pho, Chengal, Damar kelasi, Damar ketimpun, Damar lilin, Damar mata kuching, Damar miharo, Damar tingkis, Doka, Entenam, Gawi, Jamar, Kabaak khok, Kaban, Kaban kaunghmu, Kakan, Kansiopi, Kaunghmu, Kedao, Kenyau, Ketimpun, Kokadaka, Kora, Kra-bak, Krabak, Krabak daeng, Krabak dam, Mansiuri, Marlangat, Mascalwood, Meranti kawan, Merayo, Merbani, Merlangsat, Merluang lauh, Mersaw daun lebar, Mersawa, Mersawa kesat, Mersawa merah, Mesawa, Mi dang wa, Mindanao, Palosapis, Pedu kalui, Pengiran, Pengirin kesat, Penogran, Perapat hutan, Phdiek, Phdiek kraham, Punyau, Sampean, Sitairak, Suri, Tabaak, Tairak, Taire, Tairi, Tampudau, Tampurau, Tenam, Tukam, Ven van trang, Ven ven, Ven ven xanth, Venven, Vin vin, Von ven, Von-ven, weru

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam

Common Uses
Beams, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Clogs, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Decks, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Joists, Light construction, Moldings, Particleboard, Plywood, Railroad ties, Tool handles, Toys, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Windows

Environmental Profile

Distribution Overview
Usually found in dry evergreen forests, scattered all over the countryside along depressions and along valleys of low hill ranges. Elevation is generally around 500m. Known to occur in Thailand.

Heartwood Color

Sapwood Color

Normal width is about 2 inches (5 cm).

Grain

Texture

Luster

Natural Growth Defects

Natural Durability

Weathering

Odor

Silica Content

Light-Induced Color Change

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying

Kiln Drying Rate

Tree Identification

Tree Size

Product Sources
The ITTO reports that timber production from this species is in low quantities. Exports are more or less regular. Exportation of the timber from Cameroon is prohibited.

Certified Source

Comments
Retards the setting of cement and should not be used for shuttering concrete

Blunting Effect

Cutting Resistance

The wood has been found to be fairly difficult to saw especially when interlocked grain is present.

Gluing

Moulding

Movement in Service

Nailing

Planing

Resistance to Impregnation

Response to Hand Tools

Sanding

Screwing

Turning

Veneering Qualities

Steam Bending

Polishing

Staining

Strength Properties

It compares favorably with Teak, which also has high bending strength. Some familiar species with high crushing strength parallel to grain include Hard maple, Teak, and White oak

Numerical Data

References
Ashton, P.S.,1964,A manual of the Dipterocarp trees of Brunei State,O.U.P. London

Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 4 South East Asia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

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

Eddowes, P. J. 1961. Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea: Their Properties and Uses. Office of Forests, Papua New Guinea.

Eddowes, P.J.,1977,Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea: Their Properties and Uses,Hebano Press, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

France – C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France

Fundter, J.M.,1982,Names for Dipterocarp timbers and trees from Asia,Pudoc, Wageningen, Netherlands

HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

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

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

Martawijaya, A. (Ed.,1978,Timbers used for the ship building industry in Indonesia,Lembaga Penelitian Hasil Hutan, Bogor, Indonesia, Laporan No.109

Martawijaya, A., Kadir, K., Kartasujana, I.,1986,Indonesian Wood Atlas. Vol.1.,Department of Forestry Agency for Forestry Research and Development.,Bogar-Indonesia

Meijer, W., Wood, G.H.S.,1964,Dipterocarps of Sabah (North Borneo,Sabah Forest Department, Forest Record No.5