PLANTATION TIMBER OF MAESOPSIS EMINII

Maesopsis eminii (family Rhamnaceae) is a light hardwood timber species. The trees have whitish bole that are straight and cylindrical when grown in plantation and tend to lean towards sunlight when found to grow among other tree species. The sapwood is almost white in colour and the heartwood yellowish when freshly cut, darkening to golden brown or dark brown on exposure. The texture of wood is moderately coarse and even, with interlocked grain that produces a clear figure on quarter-sawn surfaces. The timber air-dry density at 15% moisture content of a 42-year-old tree was found to be 640-720 kgm⁻³ and that of a 6-year-old tree, 575-644 kg m⁻³. Its density suggests that the timber is useful for general utility and other purposes. Maesopsis eminii (famili Rhamnaceae) ialah spesies kayu keras ringan. Pokok ini mempunyai batang berwarna keputihan, lurus dan berbentuk silinder apabila ditanam di ladang dan didapati tumbuh condong ke arah cahaya matahari apabila tumbuh bersama spesies pokok lain. Kayu gubalnya berwarna hampir putih dan kayu terasnya kekuningan apabila masih basah, bertukar menjadi perang keemasan atau perang tua setelah lama terdedah. Tekstur kayu sederhana kasar dan sekata dengan iranya bersilang untuk menghasilkan bentuk corak di permukaan gergajian suku. Ketumpatan kayu pada 15% kandungan lembapan bagi pokok berumur 42 tahun bernilai 640-720 kg m⁻³ dan bagi pokok berumur 6 tahun bernilai 575-644 kg ⁻³ Nilai ketumpatannya menunjukkan bahawa kayu ini boleh digunakan untuk tujuan keperluan am dan kegunaan lain.