Faculty of Forestry

Universiti Malaysia Sabah

FK10403 WOOD SCIENCE

LAB PRACTICAL 4

Title: WOOD ANATOMICAL STRUCTURE

AND WOOD IDENTIFICATION
1. Minyak Berok/Nyalin
2. Jelutong
3. Karas/Gaharu
4. Kayu Malam
5. Berangan
6. Rengas
7. Surian
8. Damar Minyak/Kauri

Lecturer: Shirley M. Bakansing

Introduction
• Wood is the product from trees, whether from natural forest or plantation
forest. Wood resource is still an important product until now which brings high
income to the country. Various species of trees in the natural forest provides
wide range of choices of timber. Different species of trees show different wood
anatomical structure, characteristics and properties. Basically, the information
of wood anatomy helps in identifying timbers to determine the wood species
and price, however nowadays, wood anatomy provides more information for
many purposes such as for forest forensic, dendrochronology, climatology,
wood modification, wood quality enhancement and rules/regulation
enforcement for protected species.

• In this practical, students are required to apply the scientific skill in wood
anatomical structure study to understand and explain the wood anatomical
structure for wood identification purpose.
Objectives
1. To identify and describe the wood characteristics;
2. To identify and describe the wood anatomical structure for wood
identification purpose.

Materials
• Micrographs of Dipterocarpaceae wood
1.Transverse section
2.Tangential section
3.Radial section
Method/Instruction
1. Students are given a wood species, in the form of micrographs. The
micrographs were taken from transverse, tangential and radial section.
Students may copy the micrographs into the lab reports as results.
2. Based on the three micrographs, describe the wood anatomical structure:
• a)Wood type
• b)Vessel type and arrangement
• c) Parenchyma cell type and arrangement
• d) Other features.
3.Describe the characteristics (colour, grain and texture) of the wood species
given. Information is based on the literature review.
4. In your results, label the structures in the micrographs.
5. Please refer to Picture 1 - 6 for wood species micrographs.
Result
Result can be written in essay or tabulated form by explaining the
characteristics.
1. Colour
2. Smell / odour
3. Grain type
4. Texture
5. Type of wood
6. Vessel type and arrangement
7. Axial parenchyma type and arrangement
8. Ray parenchyma type and arrangement
9. Resin canal
10. Latex canal
Discussion
Explain and discuss the:
• Similarity of characteristics and anatomical structures
• Differences of characteristics and anatomical structures
• Main characteristics that is obvious to you (subjective characteristics
to each student)
Picture 1: Nyalin/Lilin/Minyak Berok
(Xantophyllum spp.)
Family: Polygalaceae
Transverse surface Tangential surface

Picture 2: Jelutong (Alstonia sp.)

Family: Apocynaceae
Jelutong (Dyera costulata)
Picture 3: Karas/Talas/Gaharu (Aquilaria malaccensis)
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Karas/Talas/Gaharu (Aquilaria malaccensis)
Picture 4: Kayu Malam/Ebony
(Diospyros spp.)
Family: Ebenaceae
Transverse section Tangential section Radial section

Kayu Malam (Diospyros sp.)

 Picture 5:
Berangan
(Castanopsis
sp.)
Family: Fagaceae

Tangential surface Transverse surface

Transverse section Tangential section Radial section

Berangan (Castanopsis sp.)

Tangential surface Transverse surface

Picture 6: Rengas (Gluta sp.)

Family: Anacardiaceae
Transverse section Tangential section Radial section

Rengas (Gluta sp.)

Transverse surface Radial surface

Picture 7: Surian (Toona sp.)

Family: Meliaceae
Transverse section Tangential section Radial section

Surian (Toona sp.)

Picture 8: Damar Minyak/Kauri (Agathis sp.)
Family: Araucariaceae
Damar Minyak / Kauri (Agathis sp.)
a. Transverse
section
b. Bordered pit of
tracheid
c. Alternate
arrangement of
bordered pit
d. Tangential
section
e. Ray parenchyma
f. Ray parenchyma
and ray tracheid
Thank you