Faculty of Forestry

Universiti Malaysia Sabah

FK10403 WOOD SCIENCE

LAB PRACTICAL 5

Title: WOOD ANATOMICAL STRUCTURE

AND WOOD IDENTIFICATION
1. Kempas
2. Keranji
3. Timbarayong
4. Tualang/Menggaris
5. Kekatong
6. Merbau
7. Nyatoh
8. Pauh Kijang

Lecturer: Shirley M. Bakansing

Introduction
• Wood is the product from trees, whether from natural forest or plantation
forest. Wood resource is still an important product until now which brings high
income to the country. Various species of trees in the natural forest provides
wide range of choices of timber. Different species of trees show different wood
anatomical structure, characteristics and properties. Basically, the information
of wood anatomy helps in identifying timbers to determine the wood species
and price, however nowadays, wood anatomy provides more information for
many purposes such as for forest forensic, dendrochronology, climatology,
wood modification, wood quality enhancement and rules/regulation
enforcement for protected species.

• In this practical, students are required to apply the scientific skill in wood
anatomical structure study to understand and explain the wood anatomical
structure for wood identification purpose.
Objectives
1. To identify and describe the wood characteristics;
2. To identify and describe the wood anatomical structure for wood
identification purpose.

Materials
• Micrographs of Dipterocarpaceae wood
1.Transverse section
2.Tangential section
3.Radial section
Method/Instruction
1. Students are given a wood species, in the form of micrographs. The
micrographs were taken from transverse, tangential and radial section.
Students may copy the micrographs into the lab reports as results.
2. Based on the three micrographs, describe the wood anatomical structure:
• a)Wood type
• b)Vessel type and arrangement
• c) Parenchyma cell type and arrangement
• d) Other features.
3.Describe the characteristics (colour, grain and texture) of the wood species
given. Information is based on the literature review.
4. In your results, label the structures in the micrographs.
5. Please refer to Picture 1 - 6 for wood species micrographs.
Result
Result can be written in essay or tabulated form by explaining the
characteristics.
1. Colour
2. Smell / odour
3. Grain type
4. Texture
5. Type of wood
6. Vessel type and arrangement
7. Axial parenchyma type and arrangement
8. Ray parenchyma type and arrangement
9. Resin canal
10. Latex canal
Discussion
Explain and discuss the:
• Similarity of characteristics and anatomical structures
• Differences of characteristics and anatomical structures
• Main characteristics that is obvious to you (subjective characteristics
to each student)
Picture 1: Kempas/Impas Family: Fabaceae
(Koompassia malaccensis)
Transverse section Tangential section Radial section

Kempas/Impas (Koompassia malaccensis)

Tangential surface Radial surface Transverse surface

Picture 2: Keranji (Dialium sp.)

Family: Fabaceae
Transverse section Tangential section Radial section

Keranji (Dialium sp.)

Transverse section Tangential section Radial section

Picture 3: Timbarayong (Peltophorum sp.)

Family: Fabaceae
Picture 4: Tualang / Menggaris
(Koompassia excelsa)
Family: Fabaceae
Picture 5: Kekatong (Cynometra sp.)
Family: Fabaceae
Transverse section Tangential section Radial section

Kekatong (Cynometra sp.)

Tangential surface Transverse surface Tangential surface

Picture 6: Merbau (Intsia bijuga)

Family: Fabaceae
Transverse section Tangential section Radial section

Merbau (Intsia bijuga)

Picture 7: Nyatoh
(Palaquium sp.)
Family: Sapotaceae
Transverse section Tangential section Radial section

Nyatoh (Palaquium sp.)

Picture 8: Pauh
Kijang (Irvingia
malayana)
Family:
Irvingiaceae
Transverse section Tangential section Radial section

Pauh Kijang (Irvingia malayana)

Thank you