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Common Name(s): Dark Red Meranti, Lauan, Philippine Mahogany Scientific Name: Shorea spp. (S. negrosensis, etc.) Distribution: Southeast Asia and Oceania Tree Size: 65-130 ft (20-40 m) tall, 3-6 ft (1-2 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 44 lbs/ft3 (710 kg/m3) Hardness: 840 lbf (3,730 N) Bending Strength: 11,800 lbf/in2 (81,380 kPa) Elasticity: 1,675,000 lbf/in2 (11,550 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 3.8%, Tangential: 7.9%, Volumetric: 13.3%, T/R Ratio: 2.1 |
Color/Appearance: Typically a dark reddish brown, or purplish brown: commonly with white resin streaks present.
Grain/Pore: Has a coarse texture with small pores. Grain is sometimes interlocked.
Durability: Reported as moderately-durable to non-durable in regard to decay resistance, but is susceptible to insect attack.
Workability: Typically easy to work, though any interlocked grain can present problems during planing, and Dark Red Meranti is reported to have very poor steam-bending properties. Some species may have a slight blunting effect on tools due to small levels of silica present in the wood. Glues, stains, and finishes well.
Smell: There is no characteristic odor associated with this wood species.
Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Meranti in the Shorea genus has been reported to cause eye, throat, and skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Price Range: Meranti is widely harvested and widely available worldwide. It should be moderately priced despite the fact that it is imported.
Comments: Sometimes referred to as Lauan, wood in the Shorea genus is very commonly used in southeast Asia, and there is an abundance of variety between the difference species: each with different working properties, appearances, and mechanical strength values.
The four main groupings for Meranti (Lauan) are: Light Red Meranti, Dark Red Meranti, White Meranti, and Yellow Meranti. The strength and mechanical values listed at the top of this page represent the average of a handful of species within the corresponding group.
Also called Philippine Mahogany, Meranti bears no relation to what is considered to be “true” mahogany in the Swietenia and Khaya genera.
Some common uses for Dark Red Meranti include: plywood, interior furniture, general construction, concrete forms, veneer, and boatbuilding.
Scans/Pictures: There are currently no pictures of this woods species available for viewing. If you’d like to contribute wood samples to be scanned, (even small pieces of veneer can be sent), please use the contact form.
February 27th, 2010 at 9:54 am
dear sir i wish to know if merantis are in cameroon’s forest and what are its common name called in cameoon and its scientific name.
Where could we fine them in cameroon .
March 1st, 2010 at 10:51 am
I’ve never heard of any type of Meranti growing anywhere in Africa—it seems to be a mostly Asian wood. I could be wrong, but perhaps you are referring to a different wood species?