Common Names:   Pyinma Tabek Jarul Banglang Intanin Bungor Banaba Astromelia Flor de la reina King of flowers Melindres Pride of India Queen crapemyrtle Queen flower Queen of flowers Reina de las flores Tabaek Purchase Pyinma

Mechanical Values

Environmental Profile
The conservation status for some species in this genus has been officially determined: L. speciosa is reported to be Vulnerable within its growth range in the Philippines, and its status in Vietnam is classified as Insufficiently Known which means that it is suspected to be either Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare (Source - World Conservation Monitoring Center - 1992 ).

Distribution
Lagerstroemia genus consists of tree species that are reported to occur in the Indo-Malayan region including Indochina, with their natural growth range extending into Indonesia and the Philippines. The trees are reported to often grow along rivers and moist flat areas, and are usually planted as an ornamental because of their attractive flowers.

Product Sources
It is currently unknown whether timber from this species is available from an environmentally responsible or a sustainably managed source. 

Tree Data
Under favorable growing conditions, the trees are reported to mature to heights of about 100 feet, with trunk diameters of 36 to 48 inches (90 and 122 cm). Boles are reported to be often fluted, and are clear of branches to about 40 feet.

Sapwood Color
The rather wide sapwood is described as white to yellowish-brown, or light yellow brown to grayish white with an occasional pinkish hue. 

Heartwood Color
The heartwood is pale red-brown to gray-yellow, or light red to reddish brown and darkens upon exposure.

Grain
The wood is usually straight grained, but may occasionally be crossed or wavy. A combination of the semi-ring pore structure and the occasional wavy grain produces an attractive figure.

Texture
Texture is reported to be commonly fine to medium, and is uneven. 

Luster
Wood surface is reported to be lustrous. 

Odor
There is no distinct odor or taste.

Ease of Drying
The material is reported to dry rather easily.

Drying Defects
Type and extent of degrade during seasoning is reported to vary with species. Timber from Lagerstroemia calyculata is described as refractory and is prone to severe warping and splitting.

T/R Ratio
1.55
This indicator is more meaningful if it is used together with other drying information and actual shrinkage data in the tangential and radial directions. (Refer to the Numerical Values window).

Natural Durability
The heartwood is reported to be fairly durable and somewhat resistant to attack by termites. The sapwood is susceptible to attack by powder-post beetles.

Resistance to Impregnation
Heartwood response to preservative treatment is reported to be very poor (absorptions less than 2 pcf). The sapwood is treatable.

Cutting Resistance
Cutting resistance is reported to be small, and the timber is easy to saw.

Planing
The timber is reported to be easy to work and responds well to most machine tools to produce a relatively smooth finish in planing and most machining operations. Wood with irregular grain is liable to pick up and may be difficult to plane.

Turning
The timber responds well to ordinary tools to yield good results in turning operations.

Moulding
Moulding characteristics are reported to be generally good.

Boring
Response to boring operations is reported to be good, and bored surfaces are usually clean.

Routing & Recessing
The wood is reported to work well in most machining operations.

Mortising
Mortising qualities are reported to be generally good.

Polishing
The wood takes a good polish.

Response to Hand Tools
The timber responds well to hand tools.

Strength Properties
Bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) is high - comparable to Teak. Strength in compression parallel to grain is in the high range. Other species in this range include Teak, White oak, and Hard maple. It is moderately hard and resistant to wearing and marring. It is heavy. The density is high.