| | CITESwoodID: descriptions, illustrations, identification and information retrieval |
Nomenclature. Family: RUBIACEAE. Synonym(s): Anthocephalus cadamba, A. chinensis, A. indicus. Further trade and local names: jabon, kelampai, sugi manai (ID); laran (MY-Sab); selimpoh, sempayan (MY-Swk); kaatoan bangkal (PH); gao (VN); mau-lettan-she (MM). Code according to DIN EN 13556: none.
CITES(EU) status of protection. Not protected.
Similar timbers. Easily mistaken for Gonystylus spp. (CITES II).
Geographic distribution. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka to Indomalesia (cultivated worldwide in tropical regions).
Growth rings, colour, grain, etc. Growth ring boundaries indistinct or absent. Heartwood basically yellow, white or grey; without streaks. Sapwood similar to heartwood colour. Odour indistinct or absent. Wood light weight and soft to of medium weight (0,35–0,55 g/cm³). Interlocked grain present (only weakly developed).
Hardwood vs softwood. Vessels (pores) present (= hardwood).
Vessels (pores). Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels (pores) in multiples; commonly in short (2–3 vessels) radial rows. Vessels medium to large (120–150(-220) µm); few (4–11). Tyloses present (but usually not visible with a hand lens). Other deposits in heartwood vessels (pores) present (light yellow).
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma present; not banded. Other macroscopically visible types of axial parenchyma: diffuse-in-aggregates.
Rays. Rays narrow. Large rays commonly less than 1 mm high.
Storied structure. Storied structure absent.
Physical and chemical tests. Heartwood not fluorescent (the weakly bluish colour observed is a reflection of the ultraviolet light, not fluorescence). Water extract not fluorescent; colour shade of water extract colourless to brown. Ethanol extract not fluorescent; colour shade of ethanol extract colourless to brown. Splinter burns to partial ash; colour of ash dark white to grey.
Additional information. • Transverse section + wood surface. Neolamarckia cadamba (Kadam). Transverse section ca. 10x. Wood surface, natural size.
The interactive key allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting specified attributes, summaries of attributes within groups of taxa, and geographical distribution.
Cite this publication as: ‘Richter, H.G., Gembruch, K., and Koch, G. 2014 onwards. CITESwoodID: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. In English, French, German, and Spanish. Version: 4th April 2023. www.delta-intkey.com’.
