Series editors' preface - Wood Tools

Rosewood – Dalbergia spp.
D latifolia – Indian rosewood
Pine – Pinus spp.
Hard pine group
(1) P. sylvestris – Scots pine
(2) P. resinosa – red pine
(3) P. palustris – longleaf pine
Larch – Larix spp.
(1) L. laricina – Eastern larch
(2) L. occidentalis – Western
larch
(3) L. decidua – European
larch
Spruce – Picea spp.
(1) P. rubens – red spruce
Straight grain. Characteristic spicy odour.
Growth rings distinct, wood usually ring
porous. Early-wood pores very large,
solitary and in radial groups of 2–3; latewood
pores smaller, not numerous, evenly
distributed; vessels with tyloses or with
yellowish or whitish deposits. Parenchyma
terminal and vasicentric. Rays distinct
without lens on cross section
Heartwood light to dark violet brown to
purple with near-black pigment layering
that resembles growth rings. Grain irregular
to roey. Growth rings indistinct. Diffuse
porous. Pores variable in size, large to
small, irregularly distributed, solitary and in
radial multiples. Parenchyma aliform with
short to very long wings; confluent forming
wavy tangential bands; also apotracheal
forming broken tangential lines or in
smaller patches. Rays not visible without a
lens. Ripple marks distinct and regular; all
elements storied
Coniferous wood. Heartwood distinct, pale
reddish-brown. Resinous odour. Wood
medium texture, uneven grained (v. dense
late-wood). Early-wood/late-wood transition
abrupt, resin canals numerous, large, mostly
solitary, evenly distributed
Coniferous wood. Heartwood distinct
yellowish to orange brown or russet (1)
through to reddish brown (2) or brick red
(3) in colour. Odourless. Uneven (1) to
moderately uneven (2) grain. Early
wood/late-wood transition abrupt. Rings in
(2) generally narrow. Resin canals small,
relatively few and variable in distribution,
solitary or up to several in tangential
groups. Texture medium-fine (1) to
medium-coarse (2)
Heartwood light in colour; indistinct from
sapwood. Odourless. Grain fairly even to
longitudinal
parenchyma with
brown gum contents.
Intervessel pitting
alternate, medium
Rays 1–3 (mostly
2–3) seriate; up to 15
cells high. Intervessel
pitting alternate,
medium-large
Epithelial cells thinwalled.
Rays
heterocellular. Ray
tracheids dentate.
Crossfield pitting
window-like (1–2) or
pinoid (3)
Epithelial cells thickwalled.
Ray tracheids
with Larix-type pits.
Cross-field pitting
piceoid. Longitudinal
parenchyma absent
Epithelial cells thickwalled.
Ray tracheids
0.76
0.46 – 0.60
(1) 0.46
(2) 0.44
(3) 0.58
(1) 0.53
(2) 0.51
(3) 0.53
(1) 0.41
(2) 0.40
41.8
56.6
49.3
55.9
37.7
4.48
6.55
6.82
6.75
3.72
75.8
98.5
79.9
96.8
67.5
11 200
13 300
11 300
13 500
9 200
254 7.2
7.5
9.1
7.8
3.8
5.1
4.5
3.8
continued