IRON WOOD 11 
MAI DENG (Ironwood tree, Xylia dolabriformis.) 
This tree has red flowers in February and March at 
which time it is nearly destitute of foliage. The bark is 
then grey and red-brown. Not much sapwood. The heart- 
wood is of a red-brown colour, very hard and cross-grained. 
The annual rings are distinct. The pores are of a 
moderate size and mixed with resin, which makes the 
wood very durable. The numerous medullary rays are 
fine and undulating. The wood is very heavy, the average 
weight is 1020 kg. per cbm. in a perfectly dry state. Spe- 
cimens have been examined with a weight of 1090 kg. 
per cbm. P-608. The trees are very often twisted and 
knotty. the inside unsound. Some Engineers prefer 
Mai Teng or Mai Maka for posts and bridge timber. It 
is however a much superior wood if procured from well 
matured trees and not exposed to the heat of the sun after 
newly cut or sawn. The higher coefficient of transverse 
strength is one of the reasons of its being superior. The 
presence of resinous substances and tannic acid make the 
wood valuable. The resin is partially soluble in hot water 
to which it impartsa reddish colour. The Mai Deng 
