596 Forestry Quarterly. 



Use;s of Philippine Woods 



Although it is estimated that the Philippine Islands contain 

 more than 2,500 tree species, it is probable that not over 300 

 different kinds find their way into Manila or other Philippine 

 markets, and that, of these, less than 100 are commonly en- 

 countered.* 



Dipterocarps. As stated previously, the dipterocarp family fur- 

 nishes the main bulk of standing timber. These woods can be 

 roughly divided into three groups, viz., the lauans, the apitongs, 

 and the yacals. 



Lauans. Among the lauan group are white lauan, kalunti-lauan, 

 almon-lauan, bagtican-lauan, malaanonang-lauan, mangasinoro- 

 lauan, tiaong-lauan, mayapi-lauan, red lauan, and tanguile. Many 

 shades of brown and red are comprised in the different species. 

 White lauan and mangasinono-lauan are a light creamy brown 

 color; bagtican-lauan and almon-lauan show shades of pink, 

 which becomes a clear red in the case of mayapis-lauan, tiong- 

 lauan and some grades of tanguile, and even a dark red color in 

 the case of red lauan. In hardness they grade from soft to 

 moderately hard in the approximate order outlined above. Their 

 weight is light to moderately heavy. They are all coarse but 

 straight-grained, free from knots, easily worked, and in general 

 mechanical properties are not greatly dissimilar to the pines. 

 When quartere-sawn or slash-sawn with a figure, they show a 

 beautiful grain. The lauans, without exception, come from tall 

 trees, 100 to 150 or more feet in height, 6 feet or less in diameter, 

 and with straight, regular trunk up to 100 feet to the first limb. 



The lauans are readily attacked by fungi and white ants, but 

 not more so than Oregon pine, (Pseudotsuga taxifolia) their 

 chief competitor. They can be divided into three groups, the 

 white lauans, the red lauans and tanguile, which are the usual 

 trade names. 



*A few of the commoner species are : Molave, Vitex, pubescens Vahl 

 and V. littoralis. Decne Ipil, Intsca acuminata Merr, /. bijuga O Kuntz. 

 Yacal, Hopea plagata Vid. Acle, Pithecolobium acle Vid. Narra, Ptero- 

 carpus indicus Willd. P. echinatus Pers. Tindalo, Pahudia rhomboidea 

 Prain. Ebano (Ebony), Maba buxifoUa Pers. Mancono, Xanthostemon 

 verdugonionus Nares. Lanete, Wrightia laniti (Blco.) Merr. Camagon, 

 Diospyros discolor Willd. Apitong, Dipterocarpus grandlHorus Bl. D. 

 verniciHuus Bl. D. aMnis Brandis. D. spp. 



