Platanus acerifolia

'Platanus × acerifolia'' Willd. – London plane'''

group: 	DIFFUSE-POROUS HARDWOODS

Macroscopic structure of wood

heartwood/sapwood: 	heartwood

description: 	medium wide sapwood (3–5 cm), pinkish; heartwood light brown to brown, not abrupt transition between sapwood and heartwood

rings: 	quite good visible boundary between rings (ring boundaries quite distinct due to dark zone of late wood)

vessels:	only micro pores in wood (longitudinal sections smooth)

rays: 	very numerous, visible in X, R, T (T – very numerous, small, dark vertical lines up to 1 mm)

texture: 	flatsawn (T) and slightly radial figure (R); slight luster (T) to very luster (R), very decorative wood (primarily R)

Microscopic structure of wood

brief overview: 	Ray 1–12 seriate, HomG*, nodded rays; simple perforation plate (scalarifom)

ring: 	invisible boundary between early and late wood within ring	X

vessel: types and arrangements: 	only microvessels; microvessels solitary or in radial multiples (up to 4)	X

type of vessel perforation: 	simple (scalariform)	R

tyloses: 	rare occurrence	X, R, T

rays: 	homogeneous (slightly heterogeneous)	R, T

width of rays	1–12	T, (X)

apotracheal parenchyma: 	numerous – marginal, diffuse	X

paratracheal parenchyma: 	slightly numerous – scanty	X

tracheids in basic tissue: 	numerous – fibre tracheids	R, T

other: 	nodded rays (i. e. swollen on the ring boundary) (X section)

Wood properties

density: 	moderate heavy

ρ 0: 	580 kg/m3

ρ 12-15: 	620 kg/m3

ρ green: 	830 kg/m3

shrinkage: 	medium

- volumetric (βV): 	13,2 %

- radial (βR): 	4,7 %

- tangential (βT): 	8,5 %

ultimate strength in compression ||: 	46 MPa

ultimate strength in bending: 	99 MPa

ultimate strength in tension ||: 	MPa

hardness: 	moderate hard

Janka's hardness: 	49 MPa

technological properties: 	no problem with drying (formation of crack), working, finishing

resistance: 	rated as slightly or non-resistant to decay

Wood utilization

limited supplies are used for decorative veneers, marquetry, sports equipment, parts of musical instruments, turning wood, wood haberdashery and imitation jewellery and small decorative objects

References