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Abstract
Wood identification is a combination of art and science. Although the bulk of this manual focuses on the scientific characteristics used to make accurate field identifications of wood, the contribution of the artistic component to the identification process should be neither overlooked nor understated. Though the accumulation of scientific knowledge and experience is necessary for wood identification, the mind processes this information in a way that melds scientific knowledge with a more artistic perception of the structures used to identify the wood. There is nothing specific that you have to do to train yourself in the artistic aspects of wood identification; your mind will do this automatically. It is a thing that will come with time and practice, and it will grow organically with your growing expertise and proficiency with the technical and scientific aspects. These scientific aspects, on the other hand, will come only with diligent study and practice and the rigorous application of your attention; it is not as easy as the artistic portion of the process.
Parent Publication
Keywords
wood identification,
hand lens,
Central America,
Central American woods,
commercial timber,
pattern recognition,
wood identification process,
biology of wood,
wood anatomy,
wood structure,
scientific names,
loupe,
macroscopic,
sample preparation,
surfacing,
cutting,
characters,
vessels,
rays,
parenchyma,
identification key,
species description,
similar woods,
species summaries,
wood collection,
wood identification references,
Inside wood
Citation
Wiedenhoeft, Alex. 2011. Chapter 01: Wood identification and pattern recognition. In: Identification of Central American Woods. 2011. Forest Products Society, Madison, WI. Publication #7215-11, ISBN 978-1-892529-58-9. pp. 7-9.
