p 
354 FOx\v(»uTiiY. 
The outer part of the stoni of the Pa)}dnnus is usually very hard. I do not 
know of its couuntToial use here, hut in some Pacific inlands it furnishes an orna- 
mental wood similar in texture, but inferior in finish, to that of the coconut 
{Cocos niicifera L.) and palma hrava {Liristona spp.)- 
Exogens. — The remainder of our woodj plants may be grouped 
together as Exogens; tliat is, the stem consists of a woody cylinder which 
grows in diameter by the addition of concentric layers about the wood 
already formed; there are two great groups; the Gymnosperms, or 
Conifers, and the Anglosperms, or broad-leaved plants. These may be 
distinguished as follows: 
Conifers. — Wood, except in the first layer about the pith, containin 
no vessels; that is, nonporous; exceedingly regular in structure. There 
are a number of Conifers native to the Islands, but they are scattered in 
small patches or in almost inaccessible places on the mountains. Tlie 
only native Conifer tliat is cut at all for timber is the Benguet pine 
{Pintis insuJaris Endl.) and it scarcely comes into the Manila market 
at all. However, a large amount of coniferous wood is imported : nearly 
all of this is California redwood or Oregon pine, althougli an occasional 
piece of coniferous timber from Australia, Japan, or China is en- 
countered. 
Angiosperms. — The remaining group^ the broad-leaved trees, furnishes 
practically all of the Philippine wood found in the lumber yards, and 
further discussion M'ill apply to woods of this group unless otherwise 
indicated. 
PARTS OF THE STEM, 
Pith, wood, and harh. — In examining the end of a log, three distinct 
areas are seen; namely, a small, central jxirtion, the pith, made up of 
soft tissue; an outside, more or less corky covering, the bark, for purposes 
of protection; and, the ^vbod, which is the liard tissue making up the 
greater part of the log and extending from bark to pith. 
The pith is usually of very small diameter ; it is rarely, as in Malapii- 
paya {Polyscias nodosa Seem.), greater than one centimeter. This fact 
is of importance because the pith is an element of weakness in the wood. 
S'apivood and heartwood. — The outer part of the log is often of a 
much lighter color, less in spec-ific gravity and much softer than the 
center. The distinct, central part of the log is known as the heartwood 
and this outer portion is termed the sapwood. Many woods do not show 
any heartwood. The relative amount of sap- and heart-wood is very 
variable according to the individiial tree, the age and the part of tlie tree 
ffom which it is taken. 
Pi7/i-rai/s.— Radiating from the pith to the bark are connecting lines 
of soft tissue, the medullary or pith-rays. These are among the most 
important characteristics tx> be observed in the structure of a wood, since 
they have an intimate connection with both the strength and beauty. 
They differ in size in different woods, being very large and distinct in 
some, as for example in teluto (Pterocymhiiim tinctorium Merr.), catraon 
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