hardwood with mechanical properties of a correspondingly
high order, even somewhat higher than that of jarrah. The
heartwood is rated as moderately durable, though less so
than that of jarrah. It is extremely difficult to treat with pre-
servatives. The wood is fairly hard to machine and difficult
to cut with hand tools. It is generally more resistant to cut-
ting than is jarrah and has a slightly more dulling effect on
tool edges.
Karri is inferior to jarrah for underground use and water-
works. However, where flexural strength is required, such
as in bridges, floors, rafters, and beams, karri is an excellent
wood. Karri is popular in heavy construction because of its
strength and availability in large sizes and long lengths that
are free of defects.
Kauta
(see Marishballi)
Kempas
Kempas (Koompassia
malaccensis) is distributed
throughout the lowland
forest in rather swampy
areas of Malaysia and In-
donesia.
When exposed to air, the
freshly cut brick-red heart-
wood darkens to an orange–red or red–brown with numer-
ous yellow–brown streaks as a result of the soft tissue
(axial parenchyma) associated with the pores. The texture
is rather coarse, and the grain is typically interlocked.
Kempas is a hard, heavy wood (density of air-dried wood is
880 kg m–3 (55 lb ft–3)); the wood is difficult to work with
hand and machine tools. The wood dries well, with some
tendency to warp and check. The heartwood is resistant
to attack by decay fungi but vulnerable to termite activity.
However, it treats readily with preservative retention as
high as 320 kg m–3 (20 lb ft–3).
Kempas is ideal for heavy construction work, railroad
crossties, and flooring.
Keruing (Apitong)
Keruing or apitong (Dip‑
terocarpus) is widely scat-
tered throughout the Indo-
Malaysian region. Most of
the more than 70 species
in this genus are marketed
under the name keruing.
Other important species are
marketed as apitong in the Philippine Islands and yang in
Thailand.
The heartwood varies from light to dark red–brown or
brown to dark brown, sometimes with a purple tint; the
heartwood is usually well defined from the gray or buff-
colored sapwood. Similar to kapur (Dryobalanops), the
texture of keruing is moderately coarse and the grain is
straight or shallowly interlocked. The wood is strong, hard,
and heavy (density of air-dried wood is 720 to 800 kg m–3
(45 to 50 lb ft–3)); this wood is characterized by the pres-
ence of resin ducts, which occur singly or in short arcs as
seen on end-grain surfaces. This resinous condition and the
presence of silica can present troublesome problems. Sap-
wood and heartwood are moderately resistant to preserva-
tive treatments. However, the wood should be treated with
preservatives when it is used in contact with the ground.
Durability varies with species, but the wood is generally
classified as moderately durable. Keruing generally takes to
sawing and machining, particularly when green, but saws
and cutters dull easily as a result of high silica content in
the wood. Resin adheres to machinery and tools and may
be troublesome. Also, resin may cause gluing and finishing
difficulties.
Keruing is used for general construction work, framework
for boats, flooring, pallets, chemical processing equipment,
veneer and plywood, railroad crossties (if treated), truck
floors, and boardwalks.
Khaya
(see Mahogany, African)
Kokrodua
(see Afrormosia)
Korina
(see Limba)
Krabak
(see Mersawa)
Kwila
(see Merbau)
Lapacho
(see Ipe)
Lapuna
(see Ceiba)
Lauan
(see Meranti Groups)
Lemonwood
(see Degame)
Lignumvitae
For many years, the only
species of lignumvitae
used on a large scale was
Guaiacum officinale,
which is native to the
West Indies, northern
Venezuela, northern Co-
lombia, and Panama. WithChapter 2 Characteristics and Availability of Commercially Important Woods