Scientific Name
Xanthophyllum papuanum
Trade Name
New Guinea Boxwood
Family Name
Xanthophyllaceae
Common Names
New Guinea Boxwood
Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Australia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands
Common Uses
Bedroom suites, Brush backs & handles, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Construction, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Flooring, Furniture , Handles, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Radio – stereo – TV cabinets, Shafts/Handles, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Trimming, Veneer, Wainscotting
Environmental Profile
| Status has not been officially assessed |
Distribution Overview
The species occurs in Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, the Solomon Islands, and Australia.
Heartwood Color
| Purple | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellowish brown | ||||||||||||
| Pale brown |
Sapwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Pink | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Pale straw |
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Straight |
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked |
Texture
| Coarse | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Coarse |
Luster
| Medium |
Natural Durability
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to termite attack | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to pinhole borer | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to marine borer attack | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack by fungi and termites |
Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
Toxicity
Associated with dermatitis
Drying Defects
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| Checking |
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Radial and tangential shrinkage from 4-7% | ||||||||||||
| Radial and tangential shrinkage from 1-2% | ||||||||||||
| Easy |
Prone to surface-check
Tree Size
| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm |
Comments
Vessels often contain white deposits
Blunting Effect
Abrasive deposits are reported to dull tool edges rapidly and excessively
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to saw |
Dull saws tend to cause dust to pack on tools. Tungsten-tipped cutters are recommended
Gluing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Growth rings fairly distinct |
Movement in Service
| Excellent Stability – Small Movement |
Nailing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Planing
| Requires sharp cutting edges | ||||||||||||
| Planes to a smooth surface | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to plane |
Causes severe and rapid blunting effect on cutting edges. Smooth surfaces can be achieved if cutters are kept very sharp.
Resistance to Impregnation
| Sapwood is permeable | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood is permeable | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is resistant |
Screwing
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Painting
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Polishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Cut surfaces are usually smooth and glossy |
Strength Properties
| Resists denting and marring | ||||||||||||
| High in density | ||||||||||||
| Hardness = medium | ||||||||||||
| Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 10682 | 17346 | psi |
| Density | 46 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 1637 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 5429 | 8820 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 2136 | psi | |
| Static Bending | 7125 | 11074 | psi |
| Stiffness | 1876 | 2323 | 1000 psi |
| Toughness | 145 | inch-lbs | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 751 | 1219 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 737 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 742 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 381 | 620 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 150 | kg/cm2 | |
| Static Bending | 500 | 778 | kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness | 131 | 163 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
References
Bolza, E. and N.H. Kloot. 1966. The Mechanical Properties of 81 New Guinea Timbers. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper No. 41, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organization, Melbourne, Australia.
Eddowes, P.J. 1977. Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea – Their Properties and Uses. Forest Products Research Center, Office of Forests, Department of Primary Industry, Papua New Guinea.
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