INTRODUCTION

The Standard Malaysian Name for the light timber of Heritiera spp. (Sterculiaceae). Vernacular names applied include mengkulang (Peninsular Malaysia) with various epithets, jambu keluang (Melaka), kembang (Sabah), melabu (Sarawak) and melima (Peninsular Malaysia). Major species of the timber include H. albiflora, H. aurea, H. borneensis, H. globosa, H. javanica, H. simplicifolia and H. sumatrana. The sapwood is usually lighter in colour than the heartwood and not always sharply defined from the heartwood, which is red, red-brown to dark red-brown.

Also known as Red or brown tulip oak (Australia); Bey samlek and Don chem (Cambodia); Mengkulang (Brunei); Sundri (India); Mengkulang, Palapi and Teraling (Indonesia); Hao (Laos); Kanazo (Myanmar); Lumbayao (Philippines); Chum-praek and Chumprak (Thailand); and Huynh (Vietnam).

DENSITY

The timber is a Medium Hardwood with a density of 625-895 kg/m3 air dry.

TEXTURE

Texture is slightly to moderately coarse but even, with straight to shallowly interlocked grain.

USES

The timber is suitable for medium construction, decorative works, superior joinery, cabinet making, interior finishing, panelling, mouldings, general planking, furniture, plywood, flooring, decking, staircase (angle block, rough bracket, baluster, balustrade, carriage, handrail, riser, stringer, tread, bullnose, round end and winder), vehicle bodies (framework, floor boards and planking), ship and boat building (keels, keelsons, framework and general planking), railway sleepers, piling, cooling tower (structural members), door and window frames and sills, posts, beams, joists, rafters, telegraphic and power transmission posts and cross arms, glulam works, pencil and pallets (heavy duty and permanent type).