Longitudinal variation in selected wood properties of naturally and plantation grown Light Red Meranti (Shorea leprosula and S-parvifolia, Dipterocarpaceae)

Longitudinal variation in fibre wall percentage, area percentage of vessels and resin canals and specific gravity was studied at three to five height levels in three naturally and five plantation grown trees of Light Red Meranti (Shorea leprosula and S. parvifolia). All three variables show considerable differences within and among the studied trees. The area percentage of vessels and resin canals increases from the base to the top of the bole, most prominently in the naturally grown trees. The fibre wall percentage and the specific gravity in both the naturally grown and plantation grown trees show a decrease followed by an increase towards the top of the bole, with the lowest values at heights of about 5-10 m. The average fibre wall percentages for plantation grown trees mostly fall within the same range as those of the naturally grown trees. The total-tree-averages for specific gravity of three plantation grown trees and for the percentage of vessels and resin canals of two plantation grown trees are distinctly lower than those of the three naturally grown trees.