White cheesewood (Alstonia scholaris)
Family: Apocynaceae
Common names: Agera, Aitonga, Aitonga kengeri, Alipaoen, Alstonia mergalang, Ampalai, Andaragan, Andauyan, Angar, Basong, Bengui, Bintang, Bintihung, Bita, Blackboard tree, Boava, Bomudu, Bua, Chaile, Chalain, Chatia, Chatian, Chatiana, Chatinn, Chatiun, Chatiyan, Chatni, Chattinn, Chatwan, Chhatian, Chhatiana, Chhatim, Dakan, Dalipaoen, Devil-tree, Dirita, Dita, Ditaa, Eda-kula, Elilaippalai, Erlila palei, Ezhilam-pala, Gabus, Gabusan, Gogodu, Gogudu, Goti, Hale, Hambaga, Hambara, Hange, Jelentik, Kadusale, Kamanglit, Kasidula, Kenumau, Kenummau, Kodale, Kubita, Kunumung, Lame, Lationj, Leleko, Lete, Lettok, Lingaru, Linog, Loi, Madale, Maiyanghkao, Manakat, Mantoti, Mergalang, Milkwood, Milkwood pine, Milky, Milky pine, Mo cua, Moi, Mudhol, Mukampala, Mukampalei, Mukkam palei, New Guinea cheesewood, Pala, Palimira alstonia, Pela, Pelai, Pelaik, Pelantan, Pelawai, Pera, Polay, Pulai, Pulai bukit, Pule, Puli, Purbo, Rita, Rukattana, Sambara, Saptaparni, Satiana, Satiani, Satiun, Satni, Sattni, Satwin, Scholar-tree, Setaka, Shaitan, Shaitan wood, Suala, Susu, Susuh, Taba'a, Takno, Talanggilala, Tamba, Tangovo, Tanovo, Taungmeok, Taungsaga, Tiengped, Tongkoya, Tuturan, White cheese wood, White cheesewood, Wodrase
Distributed in: Australia, Bangladesh, Burma, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam (Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: Wide occurrence in the Asia-Pacific region from India and Sri Lanka through mainland South-East Asia and southern China, throughout Malaysia to northern Australia and the Solomon Islands. Introduced to southern USA where it is grown as an ornamental. Tolerant of a variety of soils and habitats, it can be found as a small tree growing on coral or as a canopy species in inland primary or secondary forests. Most common in lowland coastal areas with annual rainfall of 1000-3800 mm but is found in up to 1000 m in altitude.
Common uses: Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Coffins, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Drawing boards, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Shipbuilding, Stairrails, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Sub-flooring, Tables , Turnery, Utility furniture, Vats, Veneer, Wardrobes
Environment profile: Rare
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Colors: the heart isYellow, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Yellow.The grain isWeak figure, the textureMedium to coarseand the lusterMedium
Natural durability: Susceptible to wood staining fungal attack, Vulnerable to attack by powder-post beetles
Odor: No specific smell or taste
Kiln Schedules: Uk=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7
Kiln Drying Rate: Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm)
Drying Defects: Slight surface checking, Splitting
Ease of Drying: Variable results.
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good Starch commonly occurs throughout the cross-section of the living parenchyma, which occupies up to the center of large trunks. The wood exudes large quantities of the milky liquid and latex canals may affect the appearance of the timber
Blunting Effect: There is some significant blunting effect on cutting tools
Boring: Sharp cutting edges are required
Carving: Good results
Cutting Resistance: Low resistance to sawing
Gluing: Moderate gluing properties
Mortising: Very Good to Excellent
Moulding: Very Good to Excellent
Movement in Service: Very Good to Excellent
Nailing: Pre-boring recommended, Tends to split during nailing
Planing: Sharp surfaces are required
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable
Resistance to Splitting: Poor
Response to hand tools: Responds Readily
Routing recessing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Veneering qualities: Veneers easily, Veneers moderately easy
Steam bending: Unsuitable
Screwing: Pre-boring recommended, Recommend pre-boring; Turning: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Painting: Satisfactory; Polishing: Satisfactory; Staining: Staining (Characteristic) = coloured water-soluble extract;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,28 |
0,3 |
|
Density |
|
416 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
392 |
582 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
25 |
30 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
204 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
40 |
43 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
62 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
76 |
85 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
5 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
3 |
|
% |
Weight |
464 |
400 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
|
|
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
47 |
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
253 |
427 |
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 5585 | 8284 | psi | Crushing Strength | 368 | 438 | psi | Density | | 26 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 451 | lbs | Impact Strength | 16 | 17 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 2898 | 4700 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 894 | psi | Static Bending | 3606 | 6076 | psi | Stiffness | 1092 | 1222 | 1000 psi | Toughness | | 41 | inch-lbs | Specific Gravity | 0.28 | 0.3 | | Weight | 29 | 25 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 3 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 5 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 8 | | % | |
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Bending strength (MOR) = low 0 Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low 0 Max. crushing strength = low 0 Shrinkage, Tangential = very small 0 Shrinkage, Tangential = small 0 Shrinkage, Radial = small 0 Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low 0 Hardness (side grain) = very soft Shrinkage, Radial = very small Hardness (side grain) = soft Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low
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