Scientific Name
Tetrameles nudiflora
Trade Name
Thitpok
Family Name
Datiscaceae
Common Names
Baing, Bao-awny, Bhelu, Bolong, Bolur, Bondale, Bondsa, Cheeni, Chini, Chundal, Hoogia, Hoongia, Jermala, Jermalu, Kapang, Kapsin, Mai-nao-nau, Mai-taung, Mai-yum-myen, Maina, Mainakat, Mengkundor, Mugunu, Nigunu, Payomko, Piyei, Sandugaza, Sawbya, Som pong, Sompong, Tetrameles, Thitpok, Tseikpoban, Tulla, Tung, Ugad, Ugado, Vella chini, Vella pasa
Regions of Distribution
Africa, Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam
Common Uses
Balusters, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Cooperages, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Fine furniture, Fishnet floats, Floats, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hardboards, Hatracks, Interior construction, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matchboxes, Matches, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Particleboard, Partitions, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Radio – stereo – TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Sporting Goods, Stairworks, Veneer, Veneer: decorative
Environmental Profile
| Status unknown in some areas due to inadequate information | ||||||||||||
| May be rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery | ||||||||||||
| Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. | ||||||||||||
| Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center |
Rare in the Yunnan Province in China. Its status in the wild is currently listed as unknown because of insufficient information in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar or Burma, the Western Ghats region in India, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Java, the Andamans, and Sri Lanka
Distribution Overview
The species occurs in the Indo-Malayan region. In India, Thitpok grows in deciduous forests at elevations of up to 3000 feet (915 m). It is also reported to occur in Burma and Thailand.
Heartwood Color
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Pink | ||||||||||||
| Greenish to greyish | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Pale brown | ||||||||||||
| White to cream | ||||||||||||
| Pale yellow | ||||||||||||
| Grey brown |
The freshly-cut whitish wood deepens in color to become pale brown to gray-brown, or pale yellowish gray, golden brown, or light yellow, with a slight olive-green cast.
Sapwood Color
| Same as heartwood | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow |
Grain
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Rippled (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Stripe (figure) |
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Striped figure | ||||||||||||
| Rippled figure | ||||||||||||
| Figure shows rays |
Texture
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Coarse | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Medium coarse to coarse |
Luster
| Lustrous |
Natural Durability
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non durable | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from marine borers | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable |
The species has negligible resistance to attack by decay fungi and other wood destroying organisms, and should not be exposed to conditions that promote decay without proper and adequate protections.
Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
Kiln Schedules
| UK=A US=T2D4/T2D3 Fr=1 |
Drying Defects
| Moderate end spitting | ||||||||||||
| Moderate twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Moderate surface checking | ||||||||||||
| Moderate cupping | ||||||||||||
| May check and split |
Pone to discoloration.
Radial: 2.3
Shrinkage from green to air-dry (12% MC):
Tangential: 4.5
Ease of Drying
| Easy |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is buttressed | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is straight | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is cylindrical |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 0-10 m | ||||||||||||
| Bark width is 5-10 mm | ||||||||||||
| Bark width is 10-15 mm | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 20-30 m |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| Slight dulling effect on cutting tools |
Boring
| Responds readily to boring tools with good results | ||||||||||||
| Bores well with ordinary machine tools |
Carving
| Carves well in dry condition |
Cutting Resistance
| Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy | ||||||||||||
| Low resistance to sawing | ||||||||||||
| Easy to saw |
Gluing
| Glues well |
Mortising
The timber mortises readily with ordinary machine tools to yield clean surfaces
Moulding
| Very good moulding properties | ||||||||||||
| Moulded surfaces tend to be clean |
Movement in Service
| Small |
Nailing
| Holds nails well | ||||||||||||
| Satisfactory nailing properties |
Planing
| Responds well to hand and machine tools | ||||||||||||
| Easy to plane |
Thitpok produces timber that is described as soft and easy to work. It responds very readily to hand and machine tools to produce fairly clean, smooth surfaces in planing and all operations
Resistance to Impregnation
| Heartwood is moderately resistant | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is permeable | ||||||||||||
| Responds well to preservative treatment |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to machine | ||||||||||||
| Responds well to hand tools |
Routing & Recessing
| Very good routing results | ||||||||||||
| Routing is easy |
Sanding
| Good sanding properties |
Screwing
| Holds screws well |
Turning
| Yields clean surfaces | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Veneering Qualities
| Suitable for veneers |
The timber is reported to peel cleanly into veneers
Polishing
| Poor results | ||||||||||||
| Polishes to a smooth finish |
Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = very small | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = very soft | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = small | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = low | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = very small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = small | ||||||||||||
| Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low | ||||||||||||
| Soft | ||||||||||||
| Dents or scratches easily | ||||||||||||
| Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = low |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 3400 | 5038 | psi |
| Density | 21 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 292 | lbs | |
| Impact Strength | 27 | inches | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 1960 | 3430 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 830 | psi | |
| Static Bending | 2842 | 4998 | psi |
| Stiffness | 945 | 1116 | 1000 psi |
| Toughness | 35 | inch-lbs | |
| Specific Gravity | 0.29 | ||
| Weight | 21 | 17 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 2 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 6 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 239 | 354 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 336 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 132 | kg | |
| Impact Strength | 68 | cm | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 137 | 241 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 58 | kg/cm2 | |
| Static Bending | 199 | 351 | kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness | 66 | 78 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Toughness | 40 | cm-kg | |
| Specific Gravity | 0.29 | ||
| Weight | 336 | 272 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 2 | % |
References
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