Wood Properties of Flooded Gum

SUMMARY The basic density, mean fibre length and polyphenol content of the wood of young plantation trees and old naturally grown trees of flooded gum, Eucalyptus grandis (Hill) Maiden are reported. In the young trees basic densisty, mean fibre length, and polyphenol content in the heartwood increased with distance from the pith outwards at each of the four levels sampled (1, 26, 51 and 76 ft from ground level). In 1–5 year wood (measured from the pith) the longest fibres and lowest basic density were found at the 26 ft level, but variation in these properties with height was small compared with the amount of radial variation at each level. A positive correlation was found between fibre length and tree height when the data from the 1 ft level was excluded. The 16–20 year wood from the young trees had lower basic density and shorter fibres than the outer wood of the old trees. The variations in wood properties with age are discussed in relation to the choice of forest rotations and utilization of the wood ...