non-anatomical features in wood identification and systematic wood anatomy regis b. miller (retired)...
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Non-anatomical features in wood identification and systematic wood
anatomyRegis B. Miller (retired)
USDA Forest ServiceForest Products LaboratoryOne Gifford Pinchot DriveMadison, WI 53726-2398
Standard Lists for Identification
1989
2004
Hardwood list of features
221 features– 163 microscopic
– 58 non-anatomical
•25 geographic origin
•33 habit, specific gravity, colour, odour, fluorescence, froth, chrome azurol-S, burning splinter
How do we identify wood?
Naked eye– Non-anatomical features
•colour, specific gravity, odour, fluorescence, chrome azurol-S, etc.
Hand Lens– 10X - 20X
– Mostly transverse surface
Light Microscope– 4X, 10X, 20X & 40X objectives
– Mostly radial and tangential section
Color Density Fluorescence
– Surface
– Extract • Water
• Ethanol
Non-anatomical features
Chemical tests– Burning splinter
– Froth
– Chrome Azurol-S
– Color of water and ethanol extracts
Additional feature– Sodium nitrite
Non-anatomical features -- Color
Color can be a good feature
Color varies from nearly white to black
Non-anatomical features -- Color
Color may change in light and air
Color varies within a species
Non-anatomical features -- Color4 Groups within Tabebuia
Tabebuia donnell-smithii
Tabebuia rosea
Tabebuia insignis
Non-anatomical features -- Color
2 Groups within Brosimum
Brosimum rubescens
Non-anatomical features -- Color
2 Groups within Cordia
Non-anatomical features -- Density
Density (weight/volume)
Basic Specific Gravity (OD weight/green vol.)
Standard ListLow - ≤ 0.40Medium - 0.40-
0.75High - ≥ 0.75
www.physics.montana.edu/ demonstrations/video/...
Non-anatomical features -- Density
Tabebuia (lapacho group) - 0.85 - 0.97Tabebuia (roble group) - 0.52Tabebuia (white-cedar group) - 0.57Tabebuia (primavera group) - 0.40
Cordia (dark) - 0.63 - 0.84Cordia (light) - 0.34
Brosimum (guianense) - 0.82 - 1.10Brosimum (rubescens) - 0.73Brosimum (alicastrum) - 0.55 - 0.72Brosimum (utile) - 0.35 - 0.50
Non-anatomical features -- Density
Handroanthus (lapacho group) - 0.85 - 0.97Tabebuia (roble group) - 0.52Tabebuia (white-cedar group) - 0.57Roseodendron (primavera group) - 0.40
Grose and Olmstead. 2007. Taxonomic revisions in the polyphyletic genus Tabebuia s.l. (Bignoniaceae). Systematic Botany 32:660-670.
Grose and Olmstead. 2007. Evolution of a charismatice neotropical clade: Molecular phylogeny of Tabebuia s.l., Crescentieae, and allied genera (Bignoniaceae). Systematic Botany 32:650-659.
Non-anatomical features -- Density
Brosimum (guianense) - 0.82 - 1.10Brosimum (rubescens) - 0.73Brosimum (alicastrum) - 0.55 - 0.72Brosimum (utile) - 0.35 - 0.50
Datwyler and Weiblen 2004. On the origin of the fig: Phylogenetic relationships of Moraceae from NDHF sequences. Am. Jour. Bot. 91:767-777.
Non-anatomical features -- Fluorescence
Surface fluorescence
Non-anatomical features -- Fluorescence
Surface fluorescence needs a fresh surface
Non-anatomical features -- Fluorescence
Surface fluorescence many
legumes many
anacards
Miller, R.B. 2007. Fluorescent woods of the world. IN: Flynn, J.H. (ed). A guide to more useful woods of the world. Forest Products Society, Madison, WI
Non-anatomical features -- Extract Fluorescence
Water and ethanol extract fluorescence
Platymiscium
Platymiscium Dalbergia
Water fluorescence
D. nigranegative
D. spruceanablue
Non-anatomical features -- Extract Fluorescence
Ethanol fluorescence
D. spruceanablue
Non-anatomical features -- Extract Fluorescence
D. nigragreen/blue
Non-anatomical features -- Density
Dalbergia nigra - 0.76 (0.85) 0.96 g/cm3
Dalbergia spruceana - 1.00 - 1.05 g/cm3
Miller, R.B. and M.C. Wiemann. 2006. Separation of Dalbergia nigra from Dalbergia spruceana. Res. Paper FPL-RP-632. USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory.
Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species
Non-anatomical features -- Froth
Froth Test
Non-anatomical features -- Froth
Froth Test: many Sapotaceae legumes
EnterolobiumPentaclethraMoraPoeppigiaAbaremaCojobaInga
Non-anatomical features -- Extract Color
Water and ethanol extract color
Haematoxylon, Brasilettia, Guilandina, Caesalpinia
Brosimum, Maclura, Vatairea, Loxopterygium
Non-anatomical features -- Tests
Chrome azurol-S test– Blue color on aluminum accumulators
Non-anatomical features -- Tests
Species of Vochysiaceae Many species of Melastomataceae Many species of Rubiaceae Many species of Proteaceae Species of Anisophylleaceae
Chrome azurol-S test
Kukachka, B.F. and R.B.Miller. 1980. A chemical spot-test for aluminum and it value in wood identification. IAWA Bull. n.s. 1(3):104-109.
Non-anatomical features -- Tests
Burning splinter test– Good for some specific separations
Non-anatomical features -- Tests
Sodium nitrite test– Dark purple to black on species in white oak group
– Orange on species in red oak group
Non-anatomical features -- Tests
Sodium nitrite test
Examined all North American oaks!
Miller, R.B., J.T. Quirk, & D.J. Christensen. 1985. Identifying white oak logs with sodium nitrite. For. Prod. Jour. 35(2): 33-38.
What about all species of Quercus?
What about all species of Fagaceae?
What about other families?
CONCLUSIONS
Non-anatomical features
Non-anatomical features are very important in wood identification
Take Home Message!
Non-anatomical features may be important in systematic wood anatomy
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT FEATURES ARE IMPORTANT UNTIL YOU
EXAMINE THEM!!
