CATALOGUE OF THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 115 



Kraxji. Dialium indum, Linn. Weight, 67 lbs. Borneo. 



Kranji was mentioned by Laslett as being " imported in 1860-61, 

 and sent to Woolwich Dockyard to be employed for naval purposes. 

 The wood is red in colour, hard, heavy, exceedingly tough, and is one of 

 the strongest with which we are acquainted, every one of the specimens, 

 when tried transversely, taking a very heavy strain. The grain is close 

 and somewhat resembles Cuba or Spanish mahogany, but is very plain. 

 It would take a high pohsh, and except for the almost total absence of 

 ' figure ' to give it beauty, it would be valuable for the manufacture of 

 furniture, or any ornamental purposes." 



The wood, however, under the above name, has not been known in 

 commerce in the United Kingdom. 



K'runtum. Source unknown. (?) Helicia sp. (Foxworthy). Weight, 

 51 lbs. 13 oz. Borneo. 



This is a hard, moderately heavy wood, light brownish-red in colour, 

 and resembling she-oak {q.v.). Foxworthy describes the wood as durable 

 and as being used in the building of houses. He tentatively attributes 

 it as a species of Helicia {Proteaceae) . Professor Groom says that 

 although it does recall certain proteaceous woods that have broad 

 medullary rays, it is probable that it is equally possibly derived from a 

 species of Casuarina ; for it shares with species of this genus the posses- 

 sion of numerous fine (invisible) rays and thin lines of broken tangential 

 (concentric) soft tissue, as well as the remarkable broad rays that often 

 locally divide and become reunited. No distinct annual rings are visible, 

 but very striking are the numerous, very thick, often dividing medullary 

 rays that cover half any surface of the wood and produce the boldest 

 silver grain. The pores being large, by their openness somewhat spoil 

 the appearance of the surface, and often have light coloured contents 

 that cause chalky lines along the grain. 



KuREN. Melia japonica, Don. Weight, 66 lbs. Formosa. 



This is a Ught-brown, very open-grained timber, which in general 

 appearance resembles wych elm. It is an inferior wood, and is not 

 likely to be useful for an^^thing but the commonest purposes. It has 

 never yet been commercially imported into England. 



It has large open pores showing marked gum streaks. Many of these 

 pores appear to wear away, so that the surface becomes irregular. 



Kydia calycina, Roxb. Weight, 36 lbs. India, Burma. 



The wood is of a whitish-yellow colour, with a straight soft grain ; 

 on the radial section it shows the medullary rays in flecks, in a manner 



