THE REAL WOOD GUIDE COMMERCIAL TIMBERS LESSER USED SPECIES IN THE UK The division between Commercial and Lesser Used species is blurred. Some species have been included in the Commercial leaflet (No.4.1) which could have been judged as more appropriate to this list. Some of the species in this leaflet might be judged to have been better allocated under the heading of 'Commercial'. Some will find a way on to the market. Others will extend their market penetration. Species which have made little or no impact on the UK market are usually handicapped in one way or another. There is usually a reason for lack of success, even if it is a reason which perhaps should not stand in the way of further efforts to find users and markets. The barriers to utilisation include lack of sufficient and maintainable supplies, trees of poor shape, low recovery of usable wood from the log, tendencies of a wood to stain, split or distort, or elements which make sawing slow or difficult, problems with drying, inability to get smooth surfaces, or other machining difficulties. There can be marketing disinterest in species which are light and soft and perishable or, at the other end of the scale, timbers which are exceptionally hard and heavy. Sometimes the costs and logistics of getting to market make a wood uncompetitive. Distributors may be reluctant to stock timbers which are slow to sell. If there are plentiful supplies of well known woods which are familiar and for which the techniques of machining and finishing are well known, then it is more difficult to introduce other woods. Where manufacturers in the UK are committed long term to designs and colours the problems of digesting change can be substantial. In the UK there is a considerable number of tree species growing in woodlands and hedgerows. Many have been found lacking and are seldom if ever used for timber. Others are used in only the smallest and most specialised ways. In the tropics where there are many hundreds of tree species, there is felt to be a need to try to extend the number of species used commercially for both silvicultural and economic reasons. The ability to export wood products brings benefits. Where tropical countries are evolving into making finished products, it will be the product and its performance and price that governs market success, more than the name of the species. These considerations affect to a greater or lesser extent the following list of species which include temperate and tropical woods. Where these woods are being used in the UK it will be on a very small scale and often in a very specialised outlet. Some of these woods are used in countries other than the UK, and in the country of origin. A number grow in countries which have not built a permanent market in the UK. These include Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, some of the East African countries, Peru, and others. Alstonia Aistonia spp Africa. Andiroba Carapa guianensis S. America Andoung Monopetalanthus spp. Africa Antiaris Antiaris spp. Africa Asanfona Aningeria spp. Africa Ayan Distemonanthus benthamianus Africa Bintangor Calophyllum spp. Far East Binuang Octomeles sumatrana Far East Black Bean Castanospermum australe Australia Blackbutt Eucalyptus pilularis Australia Black Locust Robinia pseudoacacia America/Europe Blue Gum Eucalyptus saligna Australia Bubinga Guibourtia spp. Africa Caimito Pouteria spp. S. America Canarium Canarium schweinfurthii Africa Celtis Celtis spp. Africa Chilean Laurel Laurelia aromatica S. America Chontaquiro Diplotropis martiussi S. America Coigue Nothofagus dombeyi S. America Cordia Cordia millenji Africa Cottonwood Bombax spp. Africa Dafo Term inalia brassii Far East Dahoma Piptadeniastrum africanum Africa Danta Nesogordonia papaverifera Africa Denya Cylicodiscus gabunensis Africa Durian Duno spp. Far East Freijo Cordia goeldiana S. America Fromager Ceiba pentandra Africa Gmelina Gmelina arborea Plantations Gombe Didelotia spp. Africa Hyedua Cuibourtia ehie Africa Ilomba Pycnanthus angolensis Africa Imbuja Phoebe porosa S. America Ipe Peroba Paratecoma peroba S. America Izombe Testulea gabonensis Africa Jacareuba Calophyllum spp. S. America Jequitiba Cariniana spp. S. America Kauvula Endospermum medullosum Far East Kokoti Anopyxis klameana Africa Koto Pterygota spp. Africa Lati Amphimas spp. Africa Limbali Gilbertiodendron spp. Africa Longui Chrysophyllum africana Africa Louro Ocotea spp. S. America Makarati Burkea africana Africa Mashonate Clarisia racemosa S. America Medang Elaeocarpus spp. Far East Merbatu Parinari spp. Far East Mersawa Anisoptera spp. Far East Mora Mora spp. S. America Muhimbi Cynometra alexandri Africa Mutenye Guibourtia arnoldiana Africa Niove Staudtia stipitata Africa Nyatoh Palaquium spp. Far East Odoko Scottellia coriacea Africa Ogea Daniellia spp. Africa Okwen Brachystegia spp. Africa Olon Fagara heitzii Africa Panga Panga Millettia stuhlmanii Africa Iatandza Albizia spp. Africa Pear Pyrus communis Europe Peroba Rosa Aspidosperma spp. S. America Persimmon Diospyros persimmon N. America Plane Platanus hybrida Europe Quaruba Vochysia spp. S. America Queensland Walnut Endiandra palmerstonii Australia Rauli Nothofagus procera S. America Red Berlinia Berlinia spp. Africa Red Sterculia Sterculia rhinopetala Africa Rhodesian Teak Baikiaea pluriluga Africa Sepetir Sindora spp. Far East Simpoh Dillenia spp. Far East Swamp Sepetir Pseudosindora palustris Far East Tall Erythrophleum spp. Africa Tasmanian Oak Eucalyptus delegatensis Australia Tatajuba Bagassa guianensis S. America Taun Pometia pinnata Far East Tchitola Oxystigma oxyphyllum Africa Terentang Cam pnosperma brevipetiolata Far East Tornillo Cedrelingua cataeneformis S. America Vitex Vitex cofassus Far East Wallaba Eperua falcata S. America Next Section: 'Timber Products'