INDO-MALAYAN WOODS. 
429 
22. Sideroxylon tomentosum Eoxb. Coromandel. (See p. 542.) 
23. Sideroxylon ferrugineum Hook, et Am.). Tropical Asia. (See p. 542.) 
24. Arang ( Malta buxifolia Pers.). India to Philippines. (See p. 547.) 
25. Anan ( Fagraea fragrans Eoxb.). (See p. 549.) 
Boulger 191 ; Holtzapffel 88. 
LIGNUM- VITrE. 
True lignum-vitas does not occur outside of the tropical American 
region. It is the product of species of Ouajacum and is of rather 
restricted range. It was first introduced into Europe by the Spaniards 
at about the end of the fifteenth century and has been very much in 
demand ever since. It is exceedingly hard and heavy. Its specific 
gravity varies between 1.17 and 1.39 and it is often credited with being 
the heaviest of all known woods. The fibers are very twisted and, as a 
consequence of this, it is extremely difficult to split the wood. It is 
very much used for bowling-alley balls, sheaves of pulleys, rollers, police- 
men’s batons, and as bushing for propellers in salt water craft. It seems 
likely that the supply will approach exhaustion before long, and it is 
highly desirable that some satisfactory substitute be secured. 
Some of the woods which have been tried as possible substitutes 
are mancono ( Xanthostemon verdugonianus Naves) of the Philippine 
Islands; Dodonaea viscosa L., a widely distributed seacoast wood usually 
of small size ; Calophyllum inophyllum L., another widely distributed 
seacoast plant, which has a very twisted grain and which is sometimes 
used for bowling balls. 
Mancono ( Xanthostemon verdugonianus Naves), of the Philippine 
Islands, is probably the best known and most thoroughly tested of the 
substitutes for lignum-vitas. It is of much the same weight and is 
harder than lignum- vitae. It is of crooked grain and difficult to split. 
It seems to be immune to the attacks of termites and teredo. It has 
been tried in various places where it was subject to abrasion and to 
droppings of water and oil and has proved very satisfactory. The 
following test of mancono was made at the United States naval station, 
Cavite, Philippine Islands,: “The wood was installed on side grain, as a 
bearing for journals rotating in salt water, in the stern bushing of a 
small launch which was in constant use. At the end of seven months the 
bearing was split out for examination. The wood was found to be but 
little worn, and was reported by the commander of the naval station to 
be ‘quite the equal of lignum-vitas. when both are used for bearings on 
the side grain.’ ” 
It seems probable that, for several purposes, mancono is as service- 
able as lignum-vitas and a very satisfactory substitute for that wood. 
Hutchinson, W. I. A Philippine substitute for lignum-vitae. Bureau of 
Forestry (Philip.) Bull. 9 (1908) 1-8; Stone 18-21; Wiesner 2: 950-952; 
Holtzapffel 90 ; Boulger 202. 
