USDA Forest Service
Forest Products Laboratory
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Madison, WI 53705-2398
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Wood Technology Transfer Fact Sheet

Shorea spp.

Light Red Meranti-Light Red Lauan group

Family: Dipterocarpaceae

Other Common Names: Saya (Thailand), Red Seraya (Sabah), Meranti Merah (Indonesia), White Lauan (S. almon and some species of Parashorea and Pentacme), Almon, Mayapis (Philippines).

Distribution: Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, the Philippines, as well as Sabah and Sarawak, usually at low altitudes on well-drained soils.

The Tree: A large tree reaching a height of 150 to 200 ft, well-shaped boles clear to 90 ft and more; trunk diameters 3 to 6 ft; sometimes buttressed.

The Wood:

General Characteristics: Heartwood variable from almost white to pale pink to dark red, or pale brown to deep brown; sapwood lighter usually with a grayish tinge, distinct. Grain usually interlocked, sometimes somewhat straight; texture coarse; slightly lustrous; usually without characteristic odor or taste.

Weight: Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) sorted to range from 0.33 to 0.52, averaging about 0.40; air-dry density 25 to 40 pcf, averaging 32.

Mechanical Properties: (First two sets of data based on the 2-in. standard; the third set on the 2-cm standard.)

Moisture content Bending strength Modulus of elasticity Maximum crushing strength

(%) (Psi) (1,000 psi) (Psi)

Green (34) 7,350 1,340 3,720

12% 11,100 1,630 5,500

Green (37) 7,710 1,650 4,200

14% 10,830 1,970 6,000

Green (35) 9,150 1,400 4,600

12% 12,750 1,520 7,250

Janka side hardness 570 to 665 lb for dry material. Forest Products Laboratory toughness 270 in.-lb for green and 216 in.-lb for dry material (2-cm specimen).

Drying and Shrinkage: Seasons well with little or no degrade; there is, though, a tendency to warp, particularly in thin stock. Kiln schedule T6-D4 is suggested for 4/4 stock and T3-D3 for 8/4. Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 4.6%; tangential 8.5%; volumetric 14.3%. Movement in service is rated as small.

Working Properties: Easy to work with both hand and machine tools; nailing and gluing are satisfactory; takes a good finish, resin and oil exudation is not a problem.

Durability: Heartwood generally rated as nondurable in ground contact and is susceptible to dry-wood and subterranean termite attack; sapwood liable to powder-post beetle attack.

Preservation: Heartwood varies from resistant to very resistant to preservative treatments; sapwood usually moderately resistant.

Uses: Light structural work, furniture components, joinery, plywood, cabinetwork, flooring, concrete form work, a general utility wood.

Additional Reading: (9), (17), (34), (35), (37)

9. Burgess, P. F. 1966. Timbers of Sabah. Sabah For. Rec. No. 6.

17. Farmer, R. H. (Editor). 1972. Handbook of hardwoods. H. M. Stationery Office, London.

34. Lauricio, F. M., and S. B. Bellosillo. 1966. The mechanical and related properties of Philippine woods. The Lumberman 12(5):66 +A-H.

35. Lavers, G. M. 1967. The strength properties of timbers. For. Prod. Res. Bull. No. 50. H. M. Stationery Office. London.

37. Lee, Y. H., and Y. P. Chu. 1965. The strength properties of Malayan timbers. Malayan Forester 28(4):307-31 9.

From: Chudnoff, Martin. 1984. Tropical Timbers of the World. USDA Forest Service. Ag. Handbook No. 607.