Abstract

Branches of tropical tree species are known to account for 25-45 of tree volume. In the present system of harvesting and utilisation of timber, branches remain as the major unutilised reserves of the industry. Based on the data of one of the Project Reports (KFRI Research Report 29) attention is directed in this paper to the technical properties of branches of eleven selected tree species growing in Kerala. The properties examined are density of wood and bark, percentage of bark and heartwood proportion of wood components viz. fibres, vessels, rays etc. No significant difference is found between braches and stem in wood and bark density or in tissue percentages. However, the average percentage of bark is greater and heartwood lower in branches. Branch fibre length is, on an average, 12 lower than stem fibre length. These data suggest that branches can be accepted as an additional raw material in the manufacture of re-constituted wood products like pulp and paper