Applewood

Apple tree in bloom

Description

Deciduous, fruit bearing trees, Malus domestica and Malus sylvestris, from the rose family. Apple trees are native to the Caspian and Black Sea regions. They were introduced in America by the early settlers. Apple trees are primarily grown commercially for their fruit, rather than their timber. The pinkish buff wood has a straight grain with a fine, even texture that polishes well. Applewood is used for turnery, inlay, veneers, carving, handles, pipes, and cabinetry.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Malus domestica; Malus sylvestris (European wild apple); Pyrus malus; ¿ble (Dan.); Apfelbaum (Deut.); manzano (Esp.); pommier (Fr.); melo (It.); appel (Ned.); eple (Nor.); jabùoñ (Pol.); macieira (Port.); äpple (Sven.); fruitwood

Physical and Chemical Properties

• Small tree growing to 12 m with twisted trunk and low branches.
• Bark = brown, thin and scaly
• Leaves= simple alternate, elliptical with fine serrated edges.
• Specific gravity = 0.71 (air dry)
• Density = 40-50 ppcf

Additional Images

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  Applewood (Pyrus malus)
  transverse section

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  Applewood (Pyrus malus)
  radial section

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  Applewood (Pyrus malus)
  tangential section

Resources and Citations

• Schoch, W., Heller, I., Schweingruber, F.H., Kienast, F., 2004:Wood anatomy of central European Species: Pomaceous Fruit:Apple-Tree, Pirus malus L.

• F. H. Titmuss, Commercial Timbers of the World, The Technical Press Ltd., London, 1965

• Virginia Tech Dendrology website at www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/main.htm (Accessed Dec. 9, 2005)

• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple (Accessed Dec. 9, 2005)

• Edward Reich, Carlton J. Siegler, Consumer Goods: How to Know and Use Them, American Book Company, New York City, 1937

• Gordon Hanlon, contributed information, 1998

• CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: density=41-52 ppcf (0.66-0.84 g/cm3)