Malus sylvestris

'Malus sylvestris'' Mill. – European crab apple'''

group: 	SEMI-RING-POROUS HARDWOODS to diffuse-porous hardwoods

Macroscopic structure of wood

heartwood/sapwood: 	heartwood

description: 	moderate wide sapwood, yellowish to slightly pinkish; heartwood reddish brown to brown (colour is very variable)

rings: 	slightly distinct boundary between rings; slightly distinct zone of early wood and late wood in rings; darker layer of latewood

vessels:	only micropores in wood (longitudinal sections smooth), lighter layer of early wood within a ring due to higher abundance of micropoes

rays: 	small ray flack, visible only in R

texture: 	slightly flatsawn (T) and slightly radial figure (R); lusterless and not decorative wood

other: 	possible occurrence of pith fleck

Microscopic structure of wood

brief overview: 	Rays 1–3, HomG*; more microvessels in early wood, simple perforation plate

ring: 	visible early and late wood within ring	X

vessel types and arrangements: 	only microvessels; higher frequency of micro vessels in early wood, microvessels solitary or in radial multiples (up to 4)	X

type of vessel perforation: 	simple	R

rays: 	homogeneous (slightly heterogeneous)	R, T

width of rays	1–3	T, (X)

apotracheal parenchyma: 	marginal, diffuse, (diffuse-in-aggregates)	X

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

other: 	heartwood substances in vessels

Wood properties

density: 	moderate heavy to heavy

ρ 0: 	700 kg/m3

ρ 12-15: 	750 kg/m3

ρ green: 	1000 kg/m3

shrinkage: 	high

- volumetric (βV): 	%

- radial (βR): 	%

- tangential (βT): 	%

ultimate strength in compression ||: 	MPa

ultimate strength in bending: 	MPa

ultimate strength in tension ||: 	MPa

Janka's hardness: 	MPa

technological properties: 	it's necessary slowly drying (very often formation of crack), no problem with working and finishing

resistance: 	rated as slightly or non-resistant to decay

Wood utilization

little interest of timber trade, small practice application (small availability of raw material); furniture, woodcarving, turning wood, wood haberdashery and imitation jewellery and small decorative objects

References