Specific gravity variation in robusta eucalyptus grown in Hawaii

Roger G. Skolmen

Treesearch

Specific gravity variation in robusta eucalyptus grown in Hawaii

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Roger G. Skolmen

Year:

1972

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Pacific Southwest Research Station

Source:

Res. Paper PSW-RP-78. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Forest & Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 7 p

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Download (PDF 419 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/28751.pdf

Abstract

The specific gravity (air-dry volume, ovendry weight) of Eucalyptus robusta wood was tested within and between trees from 10 stands. Mean specific gravity was 0.603, but the range in individual samples for 50 trees was 0.331 to 0.869, and was 0.357 to 0.755 within one cross section. A consistent increase was recorded in all trees from pith to cambium and from butt to top. Mean for brittleheart (brash wood near the pith) was 0.503, considerably lower than that for normal wood at 0.651. Manufacturing problems caused by density variation could be reduced by sorting before sawing and during grading.

Keywords

Eucalyptus robusta, wood density, specific gravity, brittle-heart, variation, Hawaii

Citation

Skolmen, Roger G. 1972. Specific gravity variation in robusta eucalyptus grown in Hawaii. Res. Paper PSW-RP-78. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Forest & Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 7 p