RED GUM G.N. 2210 



RED GUM 



Also known as Satin Walnut and the sapwood as Hazel Pine. 

 Liquidambar styraciflua Linn. Hamamelidacese. 



A rather light, soft, diffuse-porous wood of a fawn, reddish or brownish 

 colour, frequently striped with dusky bands. The sapwood is brownish- 

 white. A wood which is very easy to work but badly given to warping 

 and sinking. Lustre micaceous from the numerous drops of gum. 



Transverse section. Boundary clear though not prominent, the limit 

 being a fine line or zone of Autumn wood of varying sharpness. The smoky 

 zones are independent of the structure. 



Vessels very small (lens), little variation in size, evenly crowded 

 throughout the ring though straggling lines may occasionally be dis- 

 cerned. Sometimes a few contain gum. 



Rays, just visible in certain lights, very small, numerous and about 

 the width of a large pore apart : brown. 



Parenchyma, not visible but abundantly dispersed amongst the fibres 

 as isolated cells. Wood-fibres mostly square in section. 



Radial section. Boundaries rarely traceable but the dusky stripes 

 often prominent. Vessels as innumerable fine scratches, many containing 

 gum. Rays, fine inconspicuous flakes of about the same colour as the 

 ground. 



Tangential section. As the radial, but the rays are imperceptible even 

 with the lens. The smoky bands widen out in this section. 



Red Gum may be confused with: May be distinguished by: 



True Walnut (vessels very large, Vessels very small, abundant, 



rare and isolated: usually with crowded, crystalline in vertical 



black linings in vertical section: section: no (b) parenchyma: sur- 



concentric parenchyma (b), pre- face very dull but often covered 



sent: surface bright). with glistening points. 



Pear-tree (very compact and Light and soft: watery extract 



solid: watery extract deep rich red), faint brown or dirty white. 



Alder (large rays when present: Rays all very fine: vessels uni- 



vessels thin out towards the outer formly crowded throughout the 



side of the rings). rings: many glistening points on 



the surface. 



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