22,3 Reyes: Woods of the Philippine Dipterocarps 331 



Remarks. — Used for rough construction, including siding, 

 sheathing, and concrete forms, and for cheap furniture and 

 dugout canoes. Not durable when exposed or in contact with 

 the soil. 



Bagtikan, 42 although cut in large quantities, is sold at present 

 as "white lauaan." It is as a rule harder and heavier and con- 

 sequently stronger than white lauaan (Pentacme contorta) and 

 deserves to be marketed under its own name. The wood is dis- 

 tinct from the other lauaans owing to its brownish cast, its 

 relatively greater hardness and weight, and the pronounced 

 grouping of its vessels. 



Parashorea malaanonan is widely distributed throughout the 

 Archipelago in regions where there is no pronounced dry season. 

 It has not been reported from the northwestern part of Luzon. 



SHOREA EXIMIA (Miquel) Scheffler. Almon. (Plate 23.) 



Gross features. — Sapwood yellowish white, turning dark 

 brown upon exposure, thin; heartwood pale red, fading to 

 pinkish red. Wood coarse to very coarse textured, cross grained, 

 soft to moderately hard, light to moderately heavy; specific 

 gravity, 0.514. 



Microscopic features.— -Vessels large to very large, 162 to 

 352 n (average, 300) in diameter, oblong in transverse section, 

 solitary or, more rarely, grouped; tyloses sparse. Tracheids 

 few. Fiber tracheids wanting. Libriform fibers numerous, 

 large (27 by 1,630 p), with walls 2.5 to 4.4 f, (average, 3.5) in 

 thickness, with distinct radial arrangement ; lumina large. Ver- 

 tical parenchyma vasicentric and diffuse, the latter inconspicuous. 

 Resin cysts in interrupted concentric lines. Horizontal and 

 vertical idioblasts wanting or sparse. Wood rays 4 or 5 by 60 

 to 70 cells; organic infiltration thin. 



Remarks. — Used for the same purposes as white lauaan and 

 bagtikan, for rough construction, siding, and interior finish. 

 Not durable when exposed, but less subject to ambrosia beetles 

 than red lauaan. 



With age almon assumes a reddish or pinkish red hue, thus 

 rendering its separation from the red lauaans difficult except 

 through microscopic features. Curly or mottled grades of 

 almon are marketed as "curly bagtikan." 



* The wood known in the market as "curly" or "birdseye" bagtikan is 



