MTIB Malaysian Timber Industry Board : MEMPISANG

STANDARD NAME

MEMPISANG

(Light Hardwood)

(Also known as Karai in Sabah and Kepayang Babi in

Sarawak)

Family

Annonaceae

BOTANICAL NAME

Alphonsea spp., Cyathocalyx spp., Mezzettia

spp., Platymita spp. and Xylopia spp.

DISTRIBUTION

Occurs mainly in lowland forests, low-lying semi-swamps and hills.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The sapwood is normally not well-defined from the heartwood, which is light yellow-white or light yellow-brown, often with a green tinge in colour.

Grain is almost straight.

Texture is rather coarse and uneven due to the presence of the extremely large rays.

Vessels are with simple perforations, medium-sized or moderately large, few or moderately few in number, the majority in radial pairs and radial multiples of three to seven, the rest solitary.

Wood parenchyma is of both apotracheal and paratracheal types. Apotracheal type is predominant, occurring as narrow closely spaced lines interrupted by the rays, producing a distinctive scalariform pattern. Paratracheal parenchyma is sparse, occurring as narrow borders to the pores.

Rays are of two distinct sizes. The broader rays are medium-sized, moderately broad or very broad and distinct to conspicuous on the cross-section and radial section. The finer rays are interspersed between the broader rays.

USES

Suitable for general light construction, joinery, furniture, sliced veneer, match boxes and splints, packing cases and crates. The heavier species can be used for parquet and strip flooring, tool handles and wooden mathematical instruments.