Wood and lumber properties of Larix gmelinii var. olgensis planted in Japan

Abstract

In order to promote plantation establishment of Larix gmelinii var. olgensis (syn. L. olgensis A. Henry), a ‘near threatened’ species, the wood and lumber properties were preliminary investigated for five trees from two clones of 57-year-old trees planted in Japan. The mean value of dynamic Young’s modulus of logs was 10.16 GPa. The mean values of annual ring width, latewood percentage, basic density, MOE, and MOR of five sample trees were 2.1 mm, 29.3%, 0.47 g•cm-3, 8.06 GPa, and 60.4 MPa, respectively. In addition, the MOE and MOR of 2 by 4 lumber were 10.43 GPa and 42.4 MPa, respectively. These values were similar to those obtained from other Larix species. Thus, construction lumber could be produced from the wood from plantation grown L. gmelinii var. olgensis.