INFORMATION LEAFLET FOREIGN WOODS Forest Products Laboratory,- Forest Service U. 3. Department of Agriculture 1953 MANBARKLAK Eschweilera longi pes (Poit. ) Miers Esc hweile ra subgland'uiosa (Steud, ) Miers Family: Lecythidaceae By ELOISE GERRY, Forest Products Technologist and JEANNETTE M. KRYN, Forest Products Technologist Division of Silvicultural Relations The genus Eschweil era includes about 80 species distributed from eastern Brazil through the Amazon basin to Trinidad and Costa Rica, Surinam is the chief source of manbarklak, obtained from at least two species, Eschweilera longipes (Poit.) Miers and E. su bglandulcs a (Steud,.) Miers. Fifteen or more species of Eschweilera occur in British Guiana and are called kakeralli without distinction as to kind, but at least 75 percent of the kakeralli trees are the more valuable black kakeralli, E schweilera sagjtiana Miers. The black kakeralli of British Guiana closely resembles the manbarklak of Surinam (3, 5.' -^) .- "Maintained at Madison, Wis., in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin, o c Underlined numbers in parentheses refer to the list of numbered references at the end of the article, Rept. No. I960 -1- Agriculture-Madison Other Common Names Manbarklak is also known by the following names (13, lh, 16 ) Akakarie Mekoekoeware Atotoito . Tamoenin kwatere Baakalaka Tapirin kwatere Barklak Tapoeloe kwatelie Barkraki Tekarajan kwatere Black Karalli Toledo Wood Kakaralli wadilikoro Topoeroe kwatere Kwaterie in/adilie kakaralie Kwattere Wadodorie Manbarkraki Wadoedoeli The Tree Manbarklak trees vary in size from small to fairly large* Some specimens may reach a height of 100 feet. The bole is usually straight and cylin- drical. The butt, however, may be some?;hat fluted and buttressed. The bark is dark gray. The flowers of Eschweilera longipes are large, reddish or violet, and form clusters at the ends or sides of the branches; those of E. s ubglandalosa are smaller, white or cream colored, and fragrant (lU). The Wood Color The heartwood is gray or olive brown to red brown, somewhat streaked, and rather sharply demarcated from the yellowish sapwood (9 s l6) c Luster The luster is rather low. Texture and Grain Manbarklak has a uniform and rather fine texture and is typically straight grained (16). Rept. No. I960 Weight In the manbarklak group, the specific gravity (air dry) as reported, ranges from 1,10 to 1.25, and the weight from 69 to ?3 pounds per cubic foot (16). The specific gravity (weight and volume at 15 percent moisture content) of manbarklak tested at the Institute for Physical Research at Delft, The Netherlands, was 1.00 to 1,10.^ Mechanical Properties The wood is hard, compact, tough, and strong (16) . Although average strength values for manbarklak are not available, the mechanical proper- ties for another species, black kakeralli (E, sagotiana ) from British Guiana, have been determined at Yale (19) and are presented in table 1. Seasuning and Shrinkage Shrinkage data for manbarklak are not available, but results of tests on the similar wood, black kakeralli (E. sagoti ana) are presented in table 2. Shrinkage data for greenheart ( Qcotea rodi aeiT and white oak ( Qnercus alba ) are included for comparison. Recent tests of black kakeralli showed little or no warping, checking, or casehardening and consequently the wood was rated only moderately difficult to air dry. Exposed, unpainted wood, however, may show considerable checking (19) . Resistance to Decay and Marine Bore rs The silica in manbarklak is reported to be a factor in its high resistance to marine borers. The wood is especially resistant in brackish water in places where Demerara greenheart (Q cotea rodiaei Mez.) has been severely damaged (12, 16). There is a record of 17 years of service in Surinam, and manbarklak has shown the best record of a large number of resistant species after 15 years of exposure to marine-borer attack in experiments conducted at Balboa, Canal Zone (3). Van Iterson and Sohngen (?) in an early paper report that manbarklak may be attacked by fungi and suggest that this may be prevented by keeping the wood either dry or under water to avoid deterioration. In a recent, unpublished report,- however, J. L, Bienfait, Director of the Forest Products Research Insitute T.N.O., in The Netherlands, states that manbarklak belongs in Duraoili"Gy Class 2<. A footnote to the report explains that the woods in this class have been exposed in a temperate climate ; without preservative treatment, for frcm 15 to 30 years in permanent contact with wet soil, or from uO to 5>0 years to weather and wind, without serious damage by fungi.. 3 -Unpublished data in a communication dated March 26, 1953, from J. L. Bienfait, the Director of the Forest Products Research Institute T.N.C, Delft, The Nether ?.ands . Rept. No. I960 -3- Black kakeralli was rated very durable in resistance to both the representative brown-rot fungus (Poria m onticola ) and the white-rot fungus ( Polyperus versicolor ; (3). Working Characteristics Manbarklak is rated difficult to work and to glue. It splits readily. The wood can be finished, however, with a smooth, slate-like surface (3). Pfeiffer (13) reports that manbarklak has an ash content of 2.2U percent with a large amount of siliceous material present. Tests of black kakeralli (E. sagotiana ) made at the Institute of Paper Chemistry showed an ash content of only 0,63 percent. Spectrographic analysis, however, indicated that the ash was high in siliceous material (20). Uses Manbarklak is considered excellent for marine construction in sea water, even in the tropics (16), Its ability to withstand attack by marine borers has already been discussed in this report. It serves locally for the same purposes as the similar wood, black kakeralli; for example, for posts, crossties, and construction where durability is a requirement. The latter wood is considered suitable because of its strength properties and high wear or abrasion resistance, for ice sheathing for boats, factory flooring, shoe keels for landing boats, and pulp mill equipment, such as beaters and bed plates (3). Structur e The pores are moderately small, solitary, or in small groups, Paren- chyma is typically abundant, in numerous continuous bands one, two, or more cells in width. Strands of crystals are common. Inclusions of silica are reported in the parenchymatous tissues of manbarklak (l, 12). Kept. No. 1960 -U- References 1. Amos, G, L, 193'2 e Silica In Timbers. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organi- zation. Bull. No. 267, p. 22. Melbourne, Australia. 2. Clapp, William F., Laboratories n. d. Tropical Wood Marine Borer Tests, Kure Beach, North Carolina. Preliminary Report No, 1« (A report on work sponsored by the Bureau of Ships, Navy Dept.,, Washington, D. C.) 3. Dickinson, F. E,, Hess, R. W., and Wangaard, F. F. 19U9. Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods, I. Trop. Woods No. 9$, pp. 69-73. Yale University, School of Forestry, New Haven, Conn. U. Edmonson, C. H„ I9I49. Reaction of Woods from South American and Caribbean Areas to Marine Borers in Hawaiian Waters t Caribbean Forester Vol, 10, No. 1, pp. 37-Ul. U.S.D.A, Forest Service, Trop. For. Expt. Sta,, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. 5. Hughes, J, H, 19U7» Forest Resources of British Guiana, p. 99. Georgetown, Brit. Guiana, 6, Iterson, G e van Jr. 193U. The Significance of the Anatomy of Wood for the Preservation of Marine Structures Against the Shipworm (Teredo). Proc. 5th Pacific Sci. Congress, Victoria and Vancouver, B. C. s Canada. Pp. 3907-11. 7. and Sohngen, N. L« 1911. Ropportover onderzoekingen verricht omtrent geconstateerde aantasting van het zoogenamd manbarklak. [ Report on Investigations on the Ascertained Deterioration of the So-called Manbarklak.] De Ingenieurs, No. 11. The Netherlands. 6. Kynoch, William and Norton, Newell A, 1938. Mechanical Properties of Certain Tropical Woods, Chiefly from South America Bull. No. 7- 87 pp. University of Michigan, School of Forestry and Conservation, Ann Arbor, Mich. rtept. No. I960 -£- 9. Lamb, George 195>2. Foreign vVoods Eschweilera sagotiana — Black Kakeralli. Wood and Wood Products Vol. 57, No, 2, pp. 78-79. Chicago, 111. 10. 1952. Foreign Woods, tischweilera sp. — f.aanbarklak, Kakeralli. Wood and Wood Products Vol. 57, No. 9, pp. 16, 79. Chicago, 111* 11. Markwardt, L. J., and vifilson, T. R. C, 1935. Strength and Related Properties of Woods Crown in the United States. Tech. Bull. U79, 99 pp. U. S, Dept. Agr., Washington, D, C. 12. ivietcalfe, C, R. and Chalk, L. 1950. Anatomy of the Dicotyledons,, Vol. 1, pp. 631-636. Clarendon Press, Oxford University Press, London, Eng«, and New York. 13. Pfeiffer, J. Ph. 1926-1927. De Hootsoorten Van Suriname. Vol. 1, pp. U0U-U08; Vol. 2, tables. Koninklijke Vereeniging Koloniaal Institute, Amsterdam,, The Netherlands. 1U. Pulle, A. 1932-19i4l. Flora of Suriname. Vol. 3, Part 1. Dialypetalae . Pp. 129-11+6. Kolonial instituut, Mededeeling No. 30. Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 15. Record, S, J, I9I4U. Random Observations on Tropical American Timbers. Trop. Woods No, 77, pp< 6-7. Yale University School of Forestry, New Haven, Conn. 16. _____^ and Hess, R. »/• 19U3 c Timbers of the New World, pp. 223-225'. Yale University Press, New Haven, Conn. -6- 17. Ke cord, S, J. and mell, C. D. 192li. Timbers of Tropical America, pp. U65-U66. Yale University Press, New Haven, Conn. 18. Stahel, G, 19U7. Surinam Timbers. P. 2U. Agricultural Experiment Station, Paramaribo, Surinam. 19. .tengaard, F, F. and Muschler, a. F, 1952 Properties and Uses of Tropical Wocds, III. Trop, Woods No, 98, pp. 102-105, Yale University, School of Forestry, New Haven, Conn. 20. Wise, Louis E, 1951 -•» Composition of Tropical Woods . (a report on work sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, U. S« Navy). 82 pp. Institute of Paper Chemistry, Apple ton, Wisconsin, rtept. No. I960 -7- Table 1. — ^ ecnanical prope rties of Dlack Kaxeralli and the cmuparaDle woods, greenheart and white oak— Property Species- Black Kakeralli: Eschweilera i sagotiana Greenheart Qcotea rodiaei Vihite Oak Que re us alba Moisture content Green ...,,.•. . . . • percent Air-dry=^ t . * percent Specific gravity- Based on volume when green and weight when ovendry Based on volume and weight when ovendry. Static bending Fiber stress at proportional limit Green ........ . ..,..,. . ... a . p . s . i , Air-dry^- ». .. ,p.s.i, Modulus of rupture Green. Air-dry^. Modulus of elasticity Green.. * .....»..=.. Air-dry^. Work to proportional limit Green.. j in* -lb. per cu. in Air-dry=-. . . . r .in. -lb. Work to maximum load Green .-in. -lb. Air-dry2 -in* -lb. .1,000 p, ,1,000 s.i, S«i| s.ii S 8 ii per cu. m. per cu. in, per cu, in, l. i. i. i« Compression parallel to grain Fiber stress at proportional lim Green . , . p » s Air-dry^. , ,p„s Maximum crushing strength Green. » «p.s Air-dry*! * . . , p»s Modulus of elasticity Green... .....1,000 p Air-dryd 1,000 p Hardness-'' Green - er.d lb . Green - side ,1b, Air-dry3. - end ,1b. Air-dry-i - side lb. ,s.i, 50.7 1U.2 0,82 0,98 10,680 12,860 17,780 23,U20 2,910 3,250 2.28 2.8U 13, h 2U.I* 6,170 *5,930 7,780 11,210 2,880 3,750 2,000 2,U60 2,760 2 ; 780 U2.7 1U,8 0,88 1,06 68 12 0.60 0,71 13,250 *16,200 U,700 8,200 19,^0 *25,5oo ; 8,300 15,200 2,970 -3,700 ! 2,250 : 1,780 3, #4 , 31 02 1.08 : 2.27 13. -"-22 c h : 11,6 s 1U.8 7,580 *10,000 10,160 ^12,920 3,580 *U,l60 2,260 2,320 *2,lh0 ---2,630 3,090 U,760 3.560 7,hU0 1,120 1,060 1,520 1,360 Rept. No. I960 '.Sheet 1 of 2) Table 1. — Me chanical properties of black kakeralli and the comparable "roods j greenheart and white oak- (Continued) Property Species : Black Kakeralli Eschweiler a sagotiana Greenheart Qcotea rodiaei White Oak Qnercus alba Compression perpendicular to grain Stress at proportional limit Green ............. . p . s . i »• Air-dry^. . .p.s.i. Tension perpendicular to grain Green. .......... ^ .......... . .p.s. i, Air-dry^-, ................... «p.s.i< Shear Green. . . Air-dry£. Cleavage Green. , . Air-drysi Toughness- f • * » * • t ,p.s,i ;p.s.it ,1b, per in, of width ,1b. per in, of width ,in.-lb. per specimen 1,58c *1,S30 : 560 860 1,790 2,250 390 *300 2,0l0 M.970 1,070 a, 020 1,730 *1,830 610 »»•••••*.. 26U.5 830 1,320 . 770 800 1,250 2,000 U20 U50 -iaU.9 J-his table shows results of tests on black kakeralli made by the Yale School of Forestry in cooperation with the Office of Naval Research and the Bureau of Ships, UV S, Navy Department. Average strength values for all the logs tested are presented (l£) . The results of tests on greenheart, cited in the same Yale report, were taken from Kynoch and Norton's publication (8). Values given for white oak and cited in the Yale report were taken from the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture Technical Bull, U79 (ll). 2 Source and number of logs: Black kakeralli — British Guiana, 2 logs, Greenheart — British Guiana, White Oak — United States « 3 -Air-dry values adjusted to i2 percent moisture content except where designatea 00, in which case the actual moisture content at time of testing (see Moisture Content, in table) applies, -The load in pounds required to embed a O.UUU-inch steel ball to half its diameter. —Toughness values are the average of tests of green and air-dry specimens 5/8 by 5/8 by 10 inches loaded on the tangential face over an 8-inch span. 6 "Value obtained for plank material received from the New York Naval Shipyard. (Sheet 2 of 2) ite port No. i960 Table 2. — Shrinkage values for black kakeralli and comparable woods , greenheart and white oak* - Species and source i 2 Shrinkage- Radial : Tangential ! Longitudinal : Volumetric Percent Percent : 10.5 : 9.0 i 9.0 : Percent i 0,3U i Percent Black Kakeralli (Eschweilera sagotiana) British Guiana ! Greenheart (Gcotea rodiaei) British Guiana i Lu9 8.2 i 5.3 lll.lt 16,8 White Oak : (Quercus alba) United States : 15.8 ro- o; ». ro ro —This table shows results of tests on black kakeralli made by the Yale School of Forestry in cooperation with the Office of Naval Research and the Bureau of Ships, U. S, Navy Department. Average strength values for all the logs tested are presented Q)» The results of the tests on greenheart, cited in the same Yale report, were taken from Kynoch and Norton's publication (8). Values given for white oak and cited in the Yale report were taken from the U. S. Dept. of agriculture Technical Bull. U79 (11). 2 o ""Shrinkage values represent shrinkage from the green to the ovendry condition expressed as a percentage of the green dimension. rteport No. I960