top

Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position.

Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data.

Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Distribution Overview
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing

Scientific Name
Tetramerista glabra

Trade Name
Punah

Family Name
Tetrameristaceae

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Amat, Bankalis, Entuyut, Kaye hujan, Kuantan, Larut, Pedada-paja, Punah, Punak, Rain tree, Sha lei, Terepit, Tuyot

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Construction, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Flooring, Form work, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Mine timbers, Parquet flooring, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Roofing, Rough construction, Sporting Goods, Structural work, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Vehicle parts

Environmental Profile
Vulnerable
Abundant/Secure
Status has not been officially assessed


Distribution Overview
The species occurs in coastal swamp forests in the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, and Sumatra.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Red
Tan
Green/grey
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Brown
Pale brown
Pale red to pink
Pinkish tint
Light deep red brown or yellow-brown to brown or dark reddish-brown


Sapwood Color
White
Brown
Red
Yellow
Paler than heartwood
White to yellow
Same as heartwood


Grain
Straight
Interlocked
Figure
Weak (figure)
Spiral
Even
Crossed
Distinct (figure)

Straight
Interlocked
Weak figure
Spiral
Spiral grain occasionally
Occasionally interlocked, but not always
Generally straight, but not always
Figure shows rays
Distinct figure


Texture
Coarse
Medium
Even or uniform
Fine
Uniform
Medium coarse to coarse
Coarse
Moderately coarse
Even textured

The wood has a waxy feel

Luster
Medium
High
Dull


Natural Growth Defects
Yellowish deposits in vessels


Natural Durability
Perishable
Susceptible to insect attack
Non-durable
Non-resistant to termites
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Moderately durable
Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Non durable
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles)
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to attack from marine borers
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Heartwood is moderately resistant to decay
Durable

The untreated heartwood is only moderately resistant to decay and should not be used in ground contact without adequate chemical protection.

Odor
Unpleasent odor when freshly milled
No specific taste

Freshly-Milled wood has an unpleasant odor, which disappears upon seasoning

Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3
T3 - C2 (4/4) ; T3 - C1 (8/4) US


Drying Defects
Distortion
Moderate end spitting
Moderate cupping
Moderate surface checking
No resin/gum exudation
No twisting or warping
Moderate twist/warp
Slight surface checking
No cupping, generally
May cup and stain during drying
Low resistance to sawing, but freshly felled logs may split due to internal stresses

Liable to stain.

Ease of Drying
Slowly
Rapidly
Reconditioning Treatement
Easy
Dries at a fairly rapid rate
Carefully controlled conditions required


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries slowly
Naturally dries quickly


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is not buttressed
Bole/stem form is buttressed
Bole/stem form is fluted


Tree Size
Tree height is 10-20 m
Sapwood width is 5-10 cm
Tree height is 20-30 m
Tree height is 0-10 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm


Comments
Deposits - Pores are reported to contain white, gum-like deposits.

General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Moderate
Blunting effect on machining is slight


Boring
Fairly easy to very easy
Easy

The timber bores to produce clean surfaces.

Carving
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Good results


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy
Low resistance to sawing
Fairly easy to saw


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good gluing properties
Easy to glue


Mortising
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Mortises cleanly with ordinary machine tools


Moulding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Responds well to ordinary machine tools in moulding operations
Fairly easy to mould


Movement in Service
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
Excellent Stability - Small Movement


Nailing
Poor to Very Poor Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Holds nails well
Easy to nail
Splits occasionally during nailing
Pre-boring recommended
Possible if prebored


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Easy to plane
Planes to a poor finish
Planes to a satisfactory finish

Planed surfaces tend to be fibrous, but planing operations are generally easy.

Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable sapwood
Resistant heartwood
Permeable heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Heartwood is moderately resistant
Sapwood response to penetration and retention is adequate
Sapwood is permeable
Heartwood is resistant


Resistance to Splitting
Poor


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Easy to machine
Responds well to hand tools
Moderate working qualities


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Good routing qualities


Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good sanding properties


Screwing
Pre-Boring is recommended in screwing

Pre-Boring is recommended before screwing, especially in small materials

Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Easy to turn
Good results
Poor results


Painting
Fair to Good Results


Polishing
Good results
Satisfactory results
Requires a filler
Poor results

Planed surfaces are reported to often require considerable sanding and filling to yield a good polish.

Varnishing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Max. crushing strength = low
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high
Max. crushing strength = medium
Heavy
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Dense


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength832410695psi
Crushing Strength529821.psi
Density45lbs/ft3
Hardness995lbs
Impact Strength2528inches
Maximum Crushing Strength34774191psi
Shearing Strength882psi
Static Bending54098433.psi
Stiffness170517491000 psi
Work to Maximum Load8inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.620.73
Weight5242lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage5%
Tangential Shrinkage9%
Volumetric Shrinkage17%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength585751kg/cm2
Crushing Strength3757.kg/cm2
Density721kg/m3
Hardness451kg
Impact Strength6371cm
Maximum Crushing Strength244294kg/cm2
Shearing Strength62kg/cm2
Static Bending380592.kg/cm2
Stiffness1191221000 kg/cm2
Work to Maximum Load0.56cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.620.73
Weight833673kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage5%
Tangential Shrinkage9%

References
Bootle, K.R.,1971,The Commercial Timbers of New South Wales and their use,Angus & Robertson (publishers) PTY Ltd

Browne, F.G.,1955,Forest Trees of Sarawak and Brunei and their Products.,Government Printing Office, Kuching, Sarawak

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 4 South East Asia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Burgess, P.F.,1966,Timbers of Sabah,Sabah Forest Record, no.6

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Desch, H. E. 1957. Manual of Malayan Timbers. Malayan Forest Records, 28(30):315-318.

Desch, H.E.,1954,Manual of Malayan Timbers (2 vols,Malayan Forest Records,no.15

Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO

Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment

Foxworthy, F.W.,1927,Commercial Timber Trees of the Malayan Peninsula,Malayan Forest Records 3

Grewal, G.S.,1979,Air seasoning properties of some Malaysian timbers,Malaysia Forestry Department, Forest Service, Trade Leaflet No.41

HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.

Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.

Jackson, W.F.,1957,The Durability of Malayan Timbers,Malayan Forester,20,pp38-48

Keating, W.G., Bolza, E.,1982,Characteristics properties and uses of timbers. South East Asia, Northern,Australia and the Pacific,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Chemical Technology,Inkata Press,1

Kloot, N. H. and E. Bolza. 1961. Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia. Technological Paper No. 12. Division of Forest Products, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia.

Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12

Lee, Y.H., Chu, Y.P.,1965,The Strength Properties of Malayan Timbers,Malayan Forester 28(4) pp307-19

Lee, Y.H., et al,1974,Commercial Timbers of Peninsular Malaysia,Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Department of Forestry Peninsular Malaysia and,Malaysian Timber Industry Board

Lee, Y.H., Lopez, D.T.,1968,The Machining Properties of some Malayan Timbers,Malayan Forester,3,pp194-210

Lopez, D.T.,1982,Malaysian Timbers - Punah (Tetramensta glabra,Malaysia Forestry Department, Forest Service Malaysia Trade Leaflet No.59

Malaysian Timber Industry Board,1986,100 Malaysian Timbers,The Malaysian Timber Industry Board

Menon, K.D.,1958,Susceptibility of Commercial Species of Malayan Timbers to Powder-post,Beetle,Attack,Malayan Forest Service Trade Leaflet,no.27

Ng, F.S.P. (Ed,1989,Tree Flora of Malaya A Manual for Foresters Volume 4,Forest Research Institute Malaysia Ministry of Primary Industries

Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London

Sarawak Forest Department,Trees and Timbers of Sarawak and Brunei,Forest Department, Sarawak Leaflet No.13

Smythies, B.E.,1965,Common Sarawak Trees,Borneo Literature Bureau

Stadelman, R.C.,1966,Forests of South-East Asia,Wimmer Bros., Memphis Tennessee

Strugnell, E.J.,1931,Notes on woods for furniture making,Malaysian Forester 1 pp69-73

Thomas, A.V.,1938,Timber Tests - Punah (Tetramerista glabira Mig,Malayan Forester 7(3) pp137-141

Walker, F.S.,1941,Resistance of Timbers to Marine Borer Attack,Malayan Forester 10(4) pp145-9

Wyatt-Smith, J.,1979,Pocket Checklist of Timber Trees,Malayan Forest Records No.17