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. Boring Carving Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing		Scientific Name Lagerstroemia subcostata Trade Name Crepe myrtle Family Name Lythraceae Common Names Crepe myrtle, Subcostata Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] China, Japan Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bearings & bushings, Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Charcoal, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Mine timbers, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Wharf construction Distribution Overview Indo-Malayan region including Indochina and extending into Indonesia and the Philippines; along rivers and on moist flat land; often cultivated as an ornamental. Heartwood Color Brown Green Green/grey Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color Brown White Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Figure Straight Growth rings (figure) Straight Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Even or uniform Uniform Fine Luster Medium Natural Durability Perishable Resistant to marine borers Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Slight twist/warp Slight collapse and honeycomb Severe surface checking Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Moderate collapse and honeycombing Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Stable Nailing Very Good to Excellent Results Holds nails well Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory results Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11442 17761 psi Density 40 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 5408 8171 psi Shearing Strength 3185 psi Stiffness 1665 1923 1000 psi Weight 39 31 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 804 1248 kg/cm2 Density 641 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 380 574 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 223 kg/cm2 Stiffness 117 135 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 624 496 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References E.H. Walker,1954,Important Trees of the Ryukyu Islands,United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands Special Bulletin,No. 3 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 Ma, T.P.,1963,Tests on mechanical and physical properties of important timbers in Taiwan,Taiwan Forestry Research Institute and Forest Bureau, Taipei, Bulletin,No.9 Wang, S.F.,1966,Studies on vapour drying of lumber,Taiwan Forest Research Institute Bulletin,No.139