Scientific Name
Lagerstroemia tomentosa
Trade Name
Bang-lang
Family Name
Lythraceae
Common Names
Bang-lang, Kamaungthwe, Leza, Leza wood, Pyinmapyu, Salao, Sralao
Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Burma, India
Common Uses
Boat building: framing, Chairs, Door, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Paneling, Plywood, Poles, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Structural work, Tool handles, Vehicle parts
Distribution Overview
Indo-Malayan region including Indochina and extending into Indonesia and the Philippines; along rivers and on moist flat land; often cultivated as an ornamental.
Heartwood Color
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Purple | ||||||||||||
| Green/grey | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| Reddish brown | ||||||||||||
| Pale red to pink | ||||||||||||
| Dark brown |
Sapwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow | ||||||||||||
| Different than heartwood |
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Distinct (figure) |
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Distinct figure |
Texture
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Fine to medium |
Luster
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Low | ||||||||||||
| Lustrous |
Natural Durability
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to marine borers | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Durable |
Kiln Schedules
| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid |
Drying Defects
| Internal Honeycombing Possible | ||||||||||||
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| Collapse | ||||||||||||
| Checking |
Ease of Drying
| Moderately Difficult to Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Rapidly | ||||||||||||
| Easy |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries quickly | ||||||||||||
| Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast | ||||||||||||
| Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 10-20 m |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| Little |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy |
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Movement in Service
| Unstable with Poor Stability – Large Movement |
Nailing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Pre-Boring Recommended | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Planing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Permeable sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is highly resistant |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Easy to machine |
Screwing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Pre-boring recommended |
Steam Bending
| Fair to Good Results |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Satisfactory results |
Staining
| Fair to Good Results |
Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = high | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = medium | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = soft | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = very small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = large | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = low |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 10643 | 16517 | psi |
| Density | 40 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 1326 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 5706 | 8526 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 1989 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1347 | 1563 | 1000 psi |
| Weight | 39 | 31 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 6 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 10 | % | |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 8 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 748 | 1161 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 641 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 601 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 401 | 599 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 139 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 94 | 109 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Weight | 624 | 496 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 6 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 10 | % |
References
Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.
Gamble, J.S.,1902,A Manual of Indian Timbers,Sampson Low, Marston & Co. London
Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.
Limaye, V.D.,1957,Grouping of Indian Timbers and Their Properties, Uses and Suitability.,Indian Forest Records (N.S. Timber Mechanics Vol.1 No.2)
Pearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 vols
Purkayastha, S.K.,1982,Indian woods: Their identifications, properties and uses, Vol. IV,Myrlacene to Symploceae,Controller of Publications, New Delhi
Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l’Union Francaise,C.T.F.T
Sono, P.,1974,Merchantable Timbers of Thailand.,Forest Products Research Division, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok,,Thailand.