Abstract

Basic specific gravity (on the basis of oven-dry weight to green volume) was determined for 3X3X3 cm blocks cut from across the diameter of sample transverse discs 3 cm thick from stems and branches of 5 mature trees each of 11 species from Kerala. Stem samples were taken at stump level (30 cm above ground) and at 50 and 75[] of tree height, and branch samples at 10 cm above branch insertion and at 50 and 75[] of branch length3 branch samples were taken per tree to represent small, medium and large diameter sound branches. Data are tabulated on average specific gravities at base, middle and top of stems and branches, and average (and range) of overall specific gravity of stems and branchesstatistical analyses of data are included. Four of thetimbers (Erythrina stricta, Anacardium occidentale, Lagerstroemia microcarpa [L. lanceolata] and Hevea brasiliensis) were classed as light to very light (specific gravity 0. 550)respective average specific gravities were 0. 232, 0. 437