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Boring
Carving
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Distribution Overview
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Planing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Size
Turning

Scientific Name
Litsea reticulata

Trade Name
Medang

Family Name
Lauraceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Batikuling, Boi loi, Bolly gum, Bollywood, Medang, Medang padang, Ondon

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Australia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam

Common Uses
Balusters, Building construction, Building materials, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Moldings, Office furniture, Plain veneer, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Tables , Utility furniture, Veneer, Wardrobes, Woodwork

Environmental Profile
The environmental status of this species within its natural boundaries is currently unknown since it has not been officially assessed

Distribution Overview
Found in the scrubwood forests of New South Wales and Queensland in Australia.

Heartwood Color
The heartwood is pale brown to yellowish-pink in color, occasionally with dark streaks.

Sapwood Color
Color not distinct from heartwood


Grain
Even
Closed
Straight
Wavy

Wavy
Generally straight, but not always


Texture
Fine
Coarse
Uniform
Fine


Luster
Medium


Wood surfaces which are initially lustrous are reported to dull upon exposure.

Natural Durability
Moderately durable
Non-resistant to marine borers


Natural resistance to decay is variable, and the sapwood is highly susceptible to attack by boring insects

Odor
Some Litsea timbers are scented and others have an unpleasant odor when green but the smell disappears after seasoning

Toxicity
Sawdust produced from machining operations may cause skin irritation in some individuals.

Kiln Schedules
Table No. 513, Schedule Code (52-35); U


Drying Defects
Splitting
Checking


Ease of Drying
Slowly
Rapidly
Seasons well with little degrade


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries at a moderate speed
Naturally dries quickly


Tree Size
Tree height is 30-40 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm


Trees of Litsea species are described as small to medium in size, reaching heights of up to 40 feet (12 m), with trunk diameters of 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm)

Boring
Fairly easy to very easy


Carving
Litsea timbers are favored for carving in the Philippines

Cutting Resistance
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Softwood can be easily treated

The heartwood of Litsea timbers responds poorly to preservative treatment.

Response to Hand Tools
Responds well


Turning
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Litsea timbers work readily in planing, turning, boring, moulding, mortising, and most machining operations. Response to ordinary tools is rather good

Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength725210682psi
Crushing Strength496784psi
Density30lbs/ft3
Hardness588lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength34305743psi
Shearing Strength1632psi
Static Bending43027556psi
Stiffness134316661000 psi
Toughness81inch-lbs
Specific Gravity0.36
Weight3024.lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage7%
Volumetric Shrinkage10%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength509751kg/cm2
Crushing Strength3455kg/cm2
Density480kg/m3
Hardness266kg
Maximum Crushing Strength241403kg/cm2
Shearing Strength114kg/cm2
Static Bending302531kg/cm2
Stiffness941171000 kg/cm2
Toughness93cm-kg
Specific Gravity0.36
Weight480384.kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage7%

References
Bolza, E. and N.H. Kloot. 1963. The Mechanical Properties of 174 Australian Timbers. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper No. 25, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Australia, Melbourne.

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

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

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

Wallis, N.K. 1956. Australian Timber Handbook. Sponsored by The Timber Development Association of Australia. Angus & Robertson, Ltd., 89 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, Australia.