Trema Orientalis (Menarong)

Scientific Name
Trema orientalis

Trade Name
Menarong

Family Name
Ulmaceae

Common Names
Agaunai, Anabiong, Anadong, Anagdong, Anardung, Banahl, Charcoal tree, Elodechoel, Gorklu, Guburuka, Gutel, Hinlalaong, Indalugung, Indian Charcoal tree, Kargol, Maladurong, Malasikong-durong, Mandaragon, Menanong, Menarong, Mengkirai, Mufefeti, Mugubvura, Peach cedar, Pigeonwood

Regions of Distribution
Africa, Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Angola, Australia, Botswana, Cabinda, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, India, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Vietnam, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Baskets, Bedroom suites, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Fine furniture, Fishnet floats, Floats, Floor lamps, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Matches, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Radio – stereo – TV cabinets, Roofing, Rustic furniture, Sporting Goods, Stools, Tables , Tannin, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vats, Vehicle parts, Wardrobes

Environmental Profile

Its environmental status in India and American Samoa is listed as unknown because of inadequate information. Vulnerable in the Phillipines

Distribution Overview
The genus Trema consists of about 20 species which occur abundantly in the tropics. The only member in the genus occuring in Africa, T. orientalis , is widely distributed and abundant from tropical Africa southwards through South Africa and eastwards to southern Asia. In Africa it grow on abandoned farmlands, forest clearings, and on the fringes of forests in savannah regions.

Heartwood Color

Sapwood Color

Grain

Texture

Luster

Natural Durability

The heartwood has very little natural resistance to attack by decay fungi, pin-hole borers and, possibly, termites.

Weathering

Odor

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying

Kiln dries rapidly with little degrade.
Radial – 2.5
Radial – 2.5
Shrinkage from green to 12% MC
Shrinkage from green to 12% MC
Tangential – 4.3
Tangential shrinkage – 4.3%

Tree Identification

Tree Size

Trees growing in the forests in South Africa are reported to develop a slender trunk, but those in the open or on the edge of forests tend to be of a wide-spread shape, sometimes with drooping branches. It is no more than a shrub in some places

Product Sources
Young leaves of the tree are eaten by the Zulus in South Africa, and the root and other parts of the tree are also used as an emetic.

Certified Source

Comments
Species in the genus are more valuable in their role of soil conservation and reclamation than as a source for timber

Blunting Effect

The wood has some blunting effect on saw-teeth and cutting tools.

Boring

Boring operations are rather easy with ordinary machine tools

Carving

Cutting Resistance

The timber is described as light and soft, and responds well to sawing.

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

The wood is light and soft

Movement in Service

Nailing

Planing

Resistance to Impregnation

Response to Hand Tools

The timber is described as light and soft

Routing & Recessing

Sanding

Turning

Veneering Qualities

Painting

Staining

Varnishing

Strength Properties

It is closer in strength to Mahogany than either Teak or White oak, which have higher bending strength

Numerical Data

References
Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48

Banks, C.H.,1970,The Durability of South African Wood and Wood Base Building Materials,South African Forestry Journal,No.75

Bolza, E. and N.H. Kloot. 1963. The Mechanical Properties of 174 Australian Timbers. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper No. 25. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia.

Bolza, E., Kloot, N.H.,1963,The Mechanical Properties of 174 Australian Timbers,C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper,No.25

Cause, M.L.; Rudder, E.J. and Kynaston, W.T.,1989,Queensland Timbers Their Nomenclature, Density, and Lyctid Susceptability,Queensland Department of Forestry, Technical Pamplet No.2

Desch, H. E. 1954. Manual of Malayan Timbers – Volume II. Malayan Forest Records, No. 15. Malaysia Publishing House Ltd., Singapore.

Desch, H.E.,1954,Manual of Malayan Timbers (2 vols,Malayan Forest Records,no.15

Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9

Hung, C.M.,1956,Experiments on the Pulping of Trema orientalis,Taiwan Forest Research Institute Bulletin,No.46

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

Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford.

Lauricio, F. M., Bellosillo, S. B., The Mechanical and Related Properties of Philippine Woods, The Philippine Lumber Journal, 12(5):A-H.

Palmer, E. and N. Pitman. 1972. Trees of Southern Africa, Volume 1 – Covering All Known Indidenous Species in the Republic of South Africa, South-West Africa, Botswana, Lesotho & Swaziland. A.A. Balkema, Publisher. Cape Town, South Africa.

Reyes, L.J.,1938,Philippine Woods,Commonwealth of the Philippines Department of Agriculture and Commerce,Technical Bulletin,No.7

Storrs, A.E.G.,1979,Know your Trees – Some of the Common Trees found in Zambia,Zambia Forestry Department, Ndola

Wang, S.F.,1963,Studies on the absorption and penetration of woods treated with various,treating methods of preservatives,Taiwan Forest Research Institute Bulletin,No.89

WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing – Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.

Whitmore, T.C.,1973,Tree Flora of Malaya A Manual for Foresters Volume 2,Forest Department Ministry of Primary Industries Malaysia