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Anatomical Studies of Rubber Wood (hevea Brasiliensis (hbk.) Muell. Arg.) from Bangladesh

M. Mohiuddin
Forest Botany Division, BFRI, Chittagong.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The gross features and minute anatomy of rubber wood (Hevea brasiliensis (HBK.) Muell. Arg.) have been studied in details. The probable uses of the wood have been described on the basis of the anatomical features.

Keywords: Rubber wood, Color, Anatomical.

Location: Datmara, Chittagong.

Start Date: 01-07-1990

End Date: 30-06-1991

Program Area: Variety and Species

Commodity: Rubber wood

Objectives:

To study the gross features and minute anatomy of rubber wood and to determine the probable uses of the wood on the basis of anatomical characters.

Methodology:

Twenty years old wood logs of rubber wood were centrally collected from the rubber plantation of Datmara, Chittagong. One and a half inch thick disc of the wood was supplied for anatomical studies. Small wood blocks representing true cross, radial and tangential surfaces were cut from the three different zones, viz., sapwood, heartwood and near pith. The wood blocks were boiled in distilled water till these were softened' a nd preserved in 70% alcohol for micro tome sectioning. The permanent slides, both unstained and stained with Dela field's Hematoxylin, were made following the standard procedure. The recommended terminology and procedures by the IAWA Committee (1989) were followed in describing and determining qualitative values. The thin pieces of wood were macerated in a mixture of equal volume of glacial acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide and heated in an oven at . 60°C for 24 hours or more till the maceration was complete. The macerated wood was thoroughly washed in running water and temporary slides were made staining with safranin.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Forest Science Vol. 22 (1 & 2) : 57-60, 1993, ISSN-1021-3279.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Rubber wood is creamy to reddish brown in color, light to moderately heavy, moderately hard, straight to shallowly interlocked grain, without any characteristic odour and taste, medium textured all these properties make the wood suitable for furniture, match boxes and match splints. Hannan stated that rubber wood has acceptable working properties for the use of planing, shaping, boring, mortising and turning. Nazma also reported that rubber wood is easy to saw and works well both with hand tools and machine, medium texture with darker streaks and has good nail holding properties. It is perishable, commonly stained with sapstain and moderately treatable. The authors are of the opinion that it is suitable for packing cases and boxes, fiber boards, particle boards, match splints and boxes and for low grade furniture. The attribute of rubber wood, viz., medium texture, light to moderately heavy, light colored with darker streaks at an irregular intervals, make the wood suitable for decorative veneer and this was supported by Hasnin & Salleh and Sim reported that rubber wood have been traditionally used as firewood 11'10 for charcoal manufacture in Penn insular Malaysia. Recently, it has been put to more sophisticated uses, such as, in furniture and mouldings. It has been recorded that rubber wood is a light hardwood with strength properties comparable to those of red meranti group. Thus the wood is found suitable for making furniture, attractive parquet floor and panels (Anon. 1974).lt has been noted that rubber wood possesses excellent properties that are important in internal designing, wood working and furniture making. Also, attractive light color, beautiful grain pattern, smooth finishing properties, light weight and a durability are comparable to any good tropical rain forest wood (Anon. 1991). Rubberwood saws fairly well, blunting effect on tools moderate, due to gummy streaks. The density is variable, impact properties low; glues well. It is good for fuel. It is possible for the formation of tension wood. Sharp edges must be maintained to avoid producing a woolly surface Keating and Bolza. Woolly surface may be produced due to the presence of tension wood. This statement were supported by Haygreen and Bowyer who noted that tension wood tends to produce a fuzzy surface upon sawing or surfacing particularly when processed green.

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