﻿84 RICHMOND. 



Cupang (Parkia foscbwghti Don.). 



Cupang is a light and soft wood. It is not durable and rots quickly; there 

 is no distinction between sap- and heart-wood; its color is white or whitish. It 

 is coarse grained, splitting more or less regularly; its odor is pronouncedly 

 mephitic when it is fresh or when it is partially rotted, it is less pronounced 

 when the wood is dry. 



The vessels are of medium size, each surrounded by a collar of whitish cells; 

 the pith rays are small but distinct, they are lighter in color than the surrounding 

 tissue. 



Distribution. — Cupang is probably found in lowland forests in every province 

 of the Archipelago; it also occurs in India and throughout Malaysia. 



Uses. — Cupang has no commercial use at the present time. It was formerly 

 employed in the manufacture of matches, but its use was discontinued because 

 of its odor. 



Remarks. — Both lauan and cupang are free from knots from base to 

 crown. Cupang grows to large diameter, with a smooth, straight cylin- 

 drical bole, which is often quite short. Usually a clear length of 40 

 to 55 feet terminates in a much branched crown. 



Matapis (Anisoptera sp.). 



Structural qualities. — Mayapis is a light, soft wood and is not durable. In 

 structure it very much resembles lauan, however it is distinctly coarser grained. 

 Its vessels are slightly larger and more numerous and its pith rays are rather 

 more distinct. 



Appearance, color and grain. — Mayapis is yellowish-white in color and coarse 

 grained. 



Uses. — It is used in light and temporary construction. 



Provinces leading in production. — Laguna, Tayabas, Bataan and Cagayan. 



Common names. — Mayapis, palosapis, etc. 



Remarks. — The tree which yields most of the lumber known as mayapis 

 is probably Anisoptera vidaliana Brandis, although some other closely 

 related species may also be known as mayapis or palosapis. This tree 

 has a long, straight, clean bole with a -small taper, the clear lengths 

 varying from 50 to 80 feet. Its average diameter is about 20 inches. 



Dita (Alstonia scholaris R- Br.). 



Dita is a light and soft wood weighing 28 pounds per cubic foot; it seasons 

 badly arid it rapidly becomes moldy if seasoned in the log. 



Appearance, color and grain. — There is no distinction between sap- and heart- 

 wood; it has a white, even grain which is fine and straight. The pores arc 

 medium sized; the pith rays fine and irregularly distributed, with numerous 

 intermediate extremely fine rays ; there are many fine, wavy concentric lines at 

 unequal distances. The wood has a very bjtter taste; it is easy to work and is 

 used for light furniture of various sorts and for the manufacture of matches. 



Alstonia scholaris is a very large, evergreen tree, with smooth bark and straight 

 clear bole. It is found in old clearings. 



Distribution. — Dita is widely distributed throughout the Archipelago and also 

 extends from India to the Philippines. 



Remarks. — Dita is furnished by Alstonia scholaris B. Br. and by no 

 other species. 



