Sunday, January 5, 2020

Lauan or Philippine mahogany tree

Lauan Seedlings



  • Botanically, the name refers to Toona calantas in the mahogany family, Meliaceae. It is endemic to the Philippines.
  • In the US timber trade, it is often applied to wood of the genus Shorea in the family Dipterocarpaceae.
  • Rarely, it may also refer to the narra tree (Pterocarpus indicus) in the legume family, Fabaceae.


The wood name Lauan is a loose term that applies to a number of wood species coming from southeast Asia. Another common name for this wood is Meranti: while the name Lauan is commonly used when referring to plywood made of this type of wood. (It’s also frequently called Philippine Mahogany, though Meranti/Lauan bears no relation to what is considered to be “true” mahogany in the Swietenia and Khaya genera.)

Scientifically, the name Lauan has been used to encompass most commercial lumber found in the Shorea genus, where it is very commonly used in it’s native southeast Asia. There is an abundance of variety between the difference species: each with different working properties, appearances, and mechanical strength values.

Fresh lauan heartwood is yellow to brown colored and gets darker when exposed to sunlight. The sapwood is paler then the heartwood. The wood has a moderately fine and coarse texture. The average dried weight of the wood depends on the tree type. At a moisture content of 12% it varies between 600 kg to 880 kg per cubic meter. The durability of lauan wood is classed as I to III high to moderate durability. It has high density, high bending strength and good shock resistance

The tallest lauan trees can grow to heights up to 195 feet or 60 meters. The majority of the trees are classed as evergreen but some species are semi evergreen. Leaves of these tree species are leathery and oblong to elliptic shaped. Lauan leaves can reach lengths up to 12 inches or 32 cm and vary in colour from light to dark green and yellow. The term dipterocarp from the dipterocarpaceae family means two winged fruit. Not all fruits of lauan trees have two wings and often three to five instead of only two. The fruits are egg shaped with seeds inside. These seeds contain high levels of oil used for cattle feed or as a fuel source for cooking.

Young tree species in general have smooth grey, green or reddish bark. When the trees get older the bark gets darker, rougher and sometimes deeply fissured. Lauan trees have high levels of aromatic resins. These resins are tapped by removing or carving the bark. They have many different uses such as caulking boats, varnishes, medical uses and more. Tree trunks from lauan classed trees vary in diameter. Older trees can have long and straight trunks with a diameter over 10 feet or 3 meters.

The five main groupings for Meranti (Lauan) are: Light Red Meranti, Dark Red Meranti, White Meranti, Yellow Meranti, and Balau. CDO Seedlers is now starting to produce Lauan Seedlings now

If you are Interested in availing Lauan Seedlings

Contact Us:

For Inquiries, please feel free to contact us.
CDO Seedlers
Cugman
Cagayan de oro city 9000
Philippines
Phone: +088-855-2222
Mobile: +63(905)744 5507

E-Mail: shugo3254@gmail.com

Look For Mr. Gilberto R. Beltran

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