Terminalia papuana
Specifications
Family
Combretaceae
Species
Terminalia papuana Exell
nutwood
crocodile tree
Description
The sapwood is yellowish-white, slightly lighter than the heartwood, pale greyish-brown, coarse in texture and strongly interwoven in grain, with a variable density ranging from 0.48 to 0.72.
Plant morphology
It is a tree up to 35 m tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 45 cm. The branches are densely covered with scars from old leaves, which are alternate, simple, with visible veins, and extend to the branch tips. The yellowish flowers are in inflorescences in the leaf axils. The fruit is a fleshy drupe prized by bats.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Pacific Islands: Solomon Islands, Fiji, Caroline Islands.
Habitat and ecology
Species found in lowland areas, on poorly drained substrates; it can also be found in river valleys.
Uses
Application areas
Its mechanical resistance is medium-low and its durability is poor, therefore it is used for temporary constructions and interior furnishings.
Threats and Conservation
Threats
In some areas of its range, the species is threatened by unsustainable logging and habitat loss (in Papua New Guinea, for example, between 1971 and 2002, the habitat of this species decreased by 21%).
Conservation measures
It is recommended to develop sustainable harvesting systems that take into account the species' regeneration times. In New Guinea, this plant has been used in several reforestation programs. Specimens of this species are preserved in two ex situ collections (BGCI 2019).
IUCN Red List
IUCN
Not present.
CITES. Year of assessment
CITES
CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento
Not present.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Obvious
Texture
Coarse
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
410
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
22
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
44
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
68
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
9928
MPa