WOOD WISE
generic name meaning ‘ tulip-bearing ’. The tree belongs to the Magnolia family .
This tall , stately , deciduous tree has a natural distribution in Eastern USA , from New England through New York to Michigan , Louisianna and Florida . In their natural habitat , tulip trees grow 30 to 45m in height , with trunk diameters of 2.4 to 3m . A straight stem , free of branches , of 12 to 15m can be obtained .
In South Africa , the tree usually grows to a height of 10m , but the maximum height recorded is 34m – the iconic Baynesfield tulip tree . The tree is frost-hardy . It is grown in South Africa in botanical and private gardens , mainly as an ornamental tree . The tree has a brown to purplish bark , a spreading to intermediate crown , with dense , dark green foliage , which displays golden yellow autumn tints .
The flowers and leaves make the tree particularly attractive . The showy flower resembles a tulip or lily , with
petals that are greenish towards the tips and orange-yellow at the base . The leaves are used for fodder and the nectar and pollen of the flowers are used by honey bees .
The wood produced by this magnificent tree is a lightweight hardwood with a fine texture . The light yellow to brown heartwood turns greenish upon exposure and the sapwood is creamy white . The grain is usually straight , but sometimes displays attractive blister figuring ( figure that has fairly short raised sections ).
The timber has low to moderate strength properties and good stability . It is ideal for building organs and is also suitable for many other applications , including model building , furniture , core stock for pianos and cabinets , doors , shelving , boxes and crates , baskets , veneer , pulpwood , carving and turnery . Great amounts of yellow poplar are also used for shipping pallets .
HARD FACTS : YELLOW POPLAR
Botanical / scientific name : Liriodendron tulipifera of the Magnoliaceae family .
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Yellow poplar ( South Africa ). Other names : canary wood , canoe wood , tulip tree , whitewood , hickory poplar , white-poplar .
Eastern USA , from southern New England through New York to southern Michigan and south to west central Louisianna and northern Florida .
The species is included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and its status is ‘ least concern ’.
Yellow poplar is a large tree , reaching an average height of 10m in South Africa . In its natural habitat , it grows to 30 - 45m in height and a stem diameter of 2.4 to 3.0m .
The heartwood is light yellow to brown , turning greenish upon exposure . The sapwood is creamy white .
Grain pattern : The wood has a fine and even texture and a straight grain .
Density : The air-dry density ranges from 400 to 520kg / m 3 with the average being 450kg / m 3 .
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The wood is light and soft with low to medium strength properties .
Air-drying – the wood is very easy to season and is dimensionally stable . Kiln drying – schedule 3 is recommended .
The wood is moderately durable and permeable to preservative treatment .
The wood is easily worked by hand or machine and a good surface finish is obtainable . It takes paint very well and nails easily , but the nail-holding capacity is not good . It has good gluing properties .
58 OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2018 //