Sorbus aucuparia

Sorbus aucuparia L. – European mountain ash

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

Macroscopic structure of wood

heartwood/sapwood: 	heartwood

description: 	wide sapwood, slightly brown; heartwood light brown, greyish

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

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

rays: 	small ray flack, visible only in R

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

other: 	occurrence of pith flecks

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 predominantly solitary or in radial multiples (up to 4)	X

type of vessel perforation: 	simple (sometime scalariform)	R

vessel thickenings: 	fine spiral	R, T

rays: 	homogeneous (slightly heterogeneous)	R, T

width of rays	1–3	T, (X)

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

paratracheal parenchyma: 	scanty	X

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

other: 	occurrence of pith flecks

Wood properties

density: 	moderate heavy to heavy

ρ 0: 	730 kg/m3

ρ 12-15: 	750 kg/m3

ρ green: 	1000 kg/m3

shrinkage: 	high

- volumetric (βV): 	18 %

- radial (βR): 	11,2 %

- tangential (βT): 	6,4 %

mechanical properties: 	strong, bendy, houževnaté

ultimate strength in compression ||: 	61 MPa

ultimate strength in bending: 	108 MPa

ultimate strength in tension ||: 	105 MPa

hardness: 	moderate hard

Janka's hardness: 	55 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

small interest of timber trade; woodcarving, turning wood, parts of musical instruments, small household objects and hand tools, used for butcher's working table

References