Abstract

Data are reported on the minimum, mean and maximum bark fibre length of 30 Indian timbers from forests in Kerala. The shortest fibres (mean 0. 86 mm) were found in Mimusops elengi and the longest (mean 4. 18 mm) in Ficus hispida. Of the 30 species studied, four had short-fibre bark (mean value 1 mm) and three had long-fibre bark (mean value 2 mm), while the majority had medium-sized fibres (mean value 1-2 mm) . Bark fibre length was generally greater than wood fibre length. Two species, viz. Bischofia javanica and Dillenia pentagyna, did not show the presence of fibres in the bark. The other species studied were Acacia intsia, Albizia lebbek, Anogeissus latifolia, Bombax ceiba [B. malabaricum], Bridelia squamosa, Butea superba, Careya arborea, Cassia fistula, Cordia dichotoma, Dalbergia latifolia, Grewia tiliifolia, Garuga pinnata, Helecterus [Helicteres] isora, Lagerstroemia microcarpa, Mesua nagassarium, Mitragyna parvifolia, Piliostigma malabarica [P. malabaricum],