World of Wood JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOOD COLLECTORS SOCIETY A Dedicated Group of Wood Collectors and Crafters Volume 69, Number 3 May/June 2016

2016 — The Year of Encouraging Membership World of Wood Vol. 69, No. 3 ISSN 1068-7300 May/June 2016 The International Wood Collectors Society, founded in 1947, is a non-profit society advancing information on wood. Officers and Trustees President: Elaine Hunt, Florida, USA Phone: E-mail: [email protected] President Elect: Gary Green, Indiana, USA Contents Phone: E-mail: [email protected] Vice President: Bob Chastain, Indiana,USA President’s Page ...... 3 Phone: E-mail: [email protected] Secretary-Treasurer: Patti Dickherber, 12 August Alp Ct. Pink Flame Wood ...... 4 Phone: E-mail: [email protected] Gary Green - Elected President Elect ...... 6 Publications Chairman: Duane Keck, South Carolina, USA Phone: E-mail: [email protected] IWCS 2016 Annual Meeting Minutes ...... 6 First Past President: Garry R oux, Illinois, USA Phone: E-mail: [email protected] 2016 — The Year of Encouraging Membership . . . . 9 Second Past President: Art Lee, Maryland, USA Phone: E-mail: [email protected] Elected IWCS Secretary/Treasurer ...... 9 Endowment Fund Chairman: Greg Reed, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Shrubwoods of the World ...... 9 Phone: E-mail: Archivist: Dennis Wilson, Alpena, Michigan, USA Sixteen Year Wood Identification Project . . . . 12 Phone: E-mail: [email protected] Australian Woods 83-84 ...... 14 Regional Trustees AustralAsia (2013-2016): Harry Dennis, Victoria, Elected IWCS US North East Trustee ...... 16 Canada (Interim): Robert Ritchie, Ontario, Canada EuroAfrica (2010-2016): Willem Hurkmans, Crete, Greece Wood Meets...... 16,20,30 UK (2013-2016): Ramsey Pattison, Essex, United Kingdom USA Central (2014-2018): Wes Kolkmeier, Missouri,USA New Honorary Life Members ...... 17 USA Great Lakes (2011-2017): John Burris, Indiana, USA Regis- ...... 17 USA NE (2016-2018) Mark Peet, Pennsylvania, USA USA NW (2010-2016): Alan Curtis, Oregon, USA Book Reviews ...... 18,25 USA SE (2013-2016): Jean Sumner, Virginia, USA USA SW (2011-2017): Dave Mouat, California, USA DNA for Testing Legality of Wood ...... 19 Committee Chairs and Service Providers Appointed Corporate Membership Coordinator . . 20 All-Mail Auction: Duane Keck, South Carolina, USA Membership Committee: Bob Chastain, Indiana,USA. Honor Flight of West Central Florida ...... 21 New-member Correspondent: Garry Roux, Illinois, USA Nominations Committee: Garry Roux, Illinois, USA 2016 Winter Woodfest Report ...... 22 Corporate Membership: Eric Krum, Maryland, USA Student Membership: Open Member Listings and Requests ...... 31 Membership Directory: Erlene Tarleton & Jim Ciesla, Florida, USA Obituaries ...... 31 Website Committee: Art Lee, Maryland, USA Webmaster: Erlene Tarleton, California, USA Wood Import Permits: Alan Curtis, Oregon, USA Wood Specimen Kits: Gary Green, Indiana, USA

The World of Wood is published bimonthly by the International Wood Collectors Society (IWCS). IWCS is devoted to distributing information on collecting wood, correctly identifying and naming wood specimens, and using wood in creative crafts. Contributions for publication Editor Mihaly Czako PhD may be educational, scientific, technical or of general interest to members and relevant to the E-mail: [email protected] purposes of the Society. Papers may be refereed by an Editorial Board of technically trained Associate Editors members. The phrases ‘World of Wood’, ‘IWCS Wood Data Sheet’ and all materials contained Ken Bassett — Washington, USA herein are © Copyright protected by the International Wood Collectors Society. Address Richard Crow — Cornwall, England requests to reprint material to the Editor. Alan Curtis — Oregon, USA The World of Wood is published as a benefit to members of the IWCS, a non-profit Fred Holder — Washington, USA organization of botanists, dendrologists, and other scientists, technologists, wood collectors, Willem Hurkmans — Crete, Greece hobbyists and crafts people for mutual assistance and reciprocation. Barry & Danielle James — KZN, S. Africa Applications are available from the Secretary-Treasurer or from the IWCS website. Dues and Morris Lake — , Australia address changes also should be directed to the Secretary-Treasurer. David Mouat PhD — California, USA We encourage your membership in our unique international organization. Nelis Mourik — South Holland, Netherlands All Countries “On-Line Only”: (Couples) US $35/yr; 3 yrs/$90; 5 yrs/$125; or Life Chuck Ray PhD — Pennsylvania, USA membership/$500; USA Hardcopy Journal: (Couples) US $40/yr; 3 yrs/$105; 5 yrs/$150; or Life Webmaster: [email protected] membership/$575; Australia Hardcopy Journal: (Couples) US $45/yr; 3 yrs/$120; 5 yrs/$175; or Life Worldwide web : http://www.woodcollectors.org membership/$650; Other countries Hardcopy Journal: (Couples) US $55/yr; 3 yrs/$150; 5 yrs/$225; or Life membership/$750; Corporate “On-Line Only”: US $125/yr; 3 yrs/$325; or 5 yrs/$450; all countries Corporate Hardcopy Journal: US $150/yr; 3 yrs/$375; or 5 yrs/$525; all countries Student Member: US $15 per year; all countries. Cover photographs Center: Jupiter (in Peru pink flame wood) and sand dunes of Namibia at sunrise with camel thorn - story by Vince Manna on page 4. Background: Macassar ebony (Diospyros celebica) end grain (by Eric Meier #9701). 2 World of Wood May/June 2016 The President’s Message - Searches and Thanks by Elaine Hunt #8174

The first thing I want to do is thank Garry Roux for writing the President’s Message for the last issue of WoW. I came home from the Southeast Regional Meeting, USA, in February and started running a fever. Needless to say, being sick for the next couple weeks, I was in no shape to write much of anything. I don’t think even Wonder Woman could have written a message that would make much sense during that time. Then along came Garry to save the day.

The Southeast Regional Meeting at Lake Yale, Florida, USA, was a huge success. We all had a great time and are looking forward to next year’s meeting, February 8 – 12, 2017. It is so hard to describe what all goes on at this meeting. There is something happening all the time. One of the most important parts of the meeting is the making of new friends and getting together with the friends you have made in the past. I tell people who have never been, come and see what it is all about and you will want to come again. There is an article with photos in this issue on page 22. Enjoy them and picture yourself there next year. We would love to have you join us.

I would like to ask every member to check their information in the new 2016 Membership Directory. If it is not correct, please let Duane Keck ([email protected]) know. He and Mihaly Czako are compiling a corrections page that will be in a later issue of WoW. The information will also be sent to our Secretary/Treasurer so she can update the IWCS records. This is very important and in most cases, only you can tell us if your information is not correct.

Have you checked out the IWCS Facebook page? It is found at https://www.facebook.com/WoodCollectors. There is always something new and different to see: from what is happening in IWCS today, woodworking, to wood technology and much, much more. Take a look and you will be pleasantly surprised. Don’t forget to “Like” us while you are there.

I am trying to locate all of the IWCS banners. I know where some of them are but would like to know where they all are. That way, if someone needs to use a banner for a meeting, a tool show or a woodworking/craft show, we can get one to them. If you are in possession of an IWCS banner (3’ X 4’, ~ 90 cm x 120 cm), please contact me at [email protected] or call my phone number that is in the directory. Thanks for your help.

Kris Troyer our Secretary/Treasurer is stepping down effective June 1, 2016. She has done an outstanding job for IWCS these last four years. I have worked closely with Kris and know of the long hours she has devoted to our organization. I want to wish Kris happy days ahead and all the down time she so deserves. Thank you Kris for all you have done.

Welcome to Patti Dickherber, our new IWCS Secretary/Treasurer beginning June 1, 2016. At the Southeast Regional Woodfest last February, 2016, Patti was elected during the business meeting. IWCS is fortunate to have her and I am looking forward to working with Patti in the future. There is a photo and a short bio of Patti in this issue.

A note to contributors Please submit articles as you complete them. I can then place them into future editions so each edition will present a balance of topics. Last minute changes before June 25 for the July/August 2016 issue.

May/June 2016 World of Wood 3 Pink Flame Wood by Vince Manna #4713

Sometime ago, I was on an assignment of several expeditions into many remote areas of the Peruvian rainforest to photograph pygmy marmosets, tamarins, jaguars and the rarely seen indigenous tribes deep in the interior of Manú National Park in the south of Peru. The expedition was made so much more rewarding by having seen a group of rare such as Goeldi’s monkey (Callimico goeldii) within the Manú Biosphere Reserve. Via various means of transport I traveled on to Santa Rosa, a distant town on an island in Amazonian Peru near the triple shared border (Tres Fronteras) with Brazil (Tabatinga township) and Colombia (Leticia township). There I put together another small team. As we were returning to the jungle capital, the city of Iquitos late one evening upstream along the Amazon River (Rio Amazonas) the real adventure was about to begin. Following a spectacular sunset moments earlier, the weather had suddenly turned for the worse. With increasing winds and large swells of the river, our tiny motorized aluminum boat was being tossed as if it were a cork top, bobbing up and down violently. In the far distance we could hear the thundering roars accompanying lightning vigorously striking in every direction with tremendous commotion and destruction as it drew near. Some of the flashes were hovering directly overhead but most were reaching either side of the riverbanks. These electric bolts were so loud and fierce they had sent the terrified skipper ducking for cover under the tiny stern of the boat. I wasn’t about to follow him as I would be so lucky to have a front row seat to witness one of nature’s impressive furies at work. I brushed off the repeated warnings made to me by my guide of the risks the lightning posed. Since there was no point setting up a tripod on a rocking boat, I continued pointing the drenched metal camera randomly firing away at these flashes of light in the hope of capturing on film such a spectacle. They were so intense they constantly lit up Rarely seen Machiguenga tribal lady in traditional wear deep within the night sky turning it into hues of blue. Manú Biosphere Reserve (beyond Boca Manú)

Lightning strikes Barrio Florido. It wasn’t until the film was developed the sheer scale of Rare dark phase of Goeldi’s monkey that single bolt of lightning was revealed. 4 World of Wood May/June 2016 One lightning strike dwarfed the forest canopy; its intensity had lasted a couple of seconds enabling me to capture it on film as a testimony of its monstrous size but “striking” beauty! A roaring thunder followed with the sounds of crackling explosions of wood and crashing trees. We were all shaken as the shattering vibrations traveled through us onto the other side of the river and back. I realized that something in the forest had been severely hit. The guide assured me it was a tree and I was keen to see the end result! After arriving in Iquitos, we studied the local map aided by the notes we made to accurately pinpoint the location. The next day we stocked up on food and gear to allow for a long journey back to explore the forest. I allowed a few days for the unexpected! We arrived within the vicinity of Barrio Florido where nature’s “fireworks” put on a show only nights before. We explored the area for more species of primates before camping out overnight. Early the next morning we set off again and after an 8-hour frantic search crossing streams and tributaries beneath the canopy a glowing red tree trunk appeared in the distance as if to be demanding our attention (maybe not the attention of a wood collector such as I). We inspected the damage and the inside of what previously was a tall tree. It had been blown apart into numerous fragments as if caused by dynamite. The explosion sent the splintered debris of various shapes and sizes with tremendous force at great distances in every direction. Some of the fragmented spears were even embedded into the nearby foliage. The tree had been struck due to being partially rotted and holding much moisture in spongy wood and large amounts of free water trapped in cracks and wedge- shaped gouges, an easy target for lightning strikes. I collected some of the larger sections of wood along with foliage, botanical data and notes to identify the species. Back in Iquitos, I took the wood to local crafts people who may have been familiar with the species. Some locals were familiar with it as it was sparsely used as a craft- The shattered victim - canilla de vieja or pink flame tree timber, but I needed its , so I was referred (Rinorea paniculata) to Jim King of Amazon Reserve and Resort. Jim identified it as canilla“ de vieja” but the scientific name was not known at the time. As this wood only recently entered commerce and lacked a trade name, he and his associates invented (admittedly also inspired by rum) a flashy name for it: ‘pink flame wood’, which was back translated to Spanish as ‘llama rosada’. ...continued on page 8.

Crossing one of the tributaries in search of the shattered tree Frog caught in a spiderweb? - Upper Amazon treefrog (Dendropsophus bifurcus) in Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

May/June 2016 World of Wood 5 Gary Green #6654L - Elected President Elect, February 13, 2016

I was born in Goshen, IN, USA in 1953 and have resided in Syracuse, IN since 1976. I have a BA degree from Ball State University. I taught middle school Industrial Education for 7 years, was a general contractor with as many as 8 employees for 18 years, and have been in the retail lumber/woodworking business for the past 15 years. I produce kiln dried hardwood and softwood lumber mainly from lawn trees on a Wood-Mizer, and produce architectural wood products as well as cabinets and furniture. Assuming I had a unique hobby, I had been assembling a wood specimen collection for a few years when a wood supplier suggested that I should join the International Wood Collectors Society. Amazed that there was an organization of this nature, I joined as a life member in 1996. The benefits of membership exceeded my expectations and continue to do so. • I have attended several Annual General Meetings, several Winterfest meets and many regional meets. • I helped organize the Northern Indiana meeting held in 2014, which was well attended and very successful. • I am currently the chairman of the Wood Specimen Kits program and have built up a good reserve of Inventory. • I plan to continue in this capacity as I feel the bulk of the work is now behind me. • I value the friendships I have made in the IWCS and have enjoyed all of the meetings that I have attended. • I anxiously await every issue of World of Wood and read it from cover to cover. • I would love to see more collectors, as a collector myself, but appreciate our member wood crafters. • I certainly don’t advocate an overhaul of our organization but do see the need to keep us up to speed with the rapid changes in society. • I always give all of my pursuits my best efforts and will do the same for the IWCS.

6 World of Wood May/June 2016 May/June 2016 World of Wood 7 ...continued from page 5. I had previously encountered this wood many years before whilst travelling from the Bolivian highlands down to the Amazon basin where it was also used by craftspeople of the interior. Not surprisingly, I still recall it as impressive with wild grain and color patterns. After considerable difficulty and efforts of transporting the Peru wood halfway round the world, it finally reached my

Spectacular sunrise on the Rio Amazonas from one of few river vessels used after leaving Santa Rosa workshop. The wood was immediately cut to the required sizes for proper seasoning. Pink flame wood is extremely difficult to season, as it is prone to severe warping, checking and splitting. I found old deserted holes and canals, caused by wood boring insect larvae, radiating towards the center of the tree. I took full advantage of these interesting colors and grains with its many combinations of impressive “hook- like” features appearing within. I continued cutting the 150 mm X 75 mm (6” X 3”) square dressed boards into 1.5- mm thick (1/16”) “end grain” veneers. The seasoning process was difficult. The 1.5 mm thin “end-grain” veneers were very brittle and constantly wanting to buckle and fall apart. Naturally, the veneer leaves inherited numerous hair line cracks. Finally, I adhered Leaping red uakari or English Monkey (Cacajao calvus them to a solid substrate ucayalii) along the shattered tree’s trail using 2-PAC glue. Their faces were hand-finished to a glass smooth finish ready for Pink flame wood, locally called scanning. “wasicuchu”, photographed in ...continued on page 18. Rurrenabaque, Bolivia 8 World of Wood May/June 2016 Patti Dickherber #8719 Elected IWCS Secretary/Treasurer, June 1, 2016 -

Patti Dickherber attended Maryville University, St. Louis, MO and acquired a BS in Business Administration. She is retired from MEMC (formerly Monsanto Electronic Materials Corp.). She was the Corporate Financial Analyst for the Technology & Research Division. She has extensive experience in banking as she worked in banks and savings and loans for many years. She lives with her husband, Bob. She has two children, five step-children, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She is currently the Registrar for the Saint Charles Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also volunteers at the non-profit local recycle and resource center that helps disabled children. She has been the registration person for a number of IWCS annual and regional meetings. She enjoys genealogy, crafting, sewing and traveling. Now she is looking forward to working for the IWCS because she loves the people of this organization! May/June 2016 World of Wood 9 Common spicebush by Nelis Mourik #7460L This is a spicy aromatic shrub, the hardiest species in its . Its wood is hard and fine, without special features.

The botanical name of the common rounded habit, 2 - 5 m (7 - 17 ft.) high spicebush is Lindera benzoin (L.) Blume and just as wide, and the stems bearing and it is one of three eastern North an aromatic bark. Leaves are alternate, American species, from extremely obovate in shape, and 8 - 15 cm (3 - 6 southern Canada down into northern in.) long. They turn to clear yellow in Florida. Lindera is a genus of about a autumn. When crushed, the leaf emits 100 spicy aromatic trees and shrubs, a sharp spicy odor, almost too strong to almost all native to tropical to temperate be pleasant. Flowers are unisexual (male Asia, while one is native to Australia. and female on different individuals), The other two North American Lindera yellow, sweetly fragrant, appearing species are southern spicebush or Jove’s before the leaves in a Forsythia-like fruit, L. melissaefolium (Walt.) Blume flowering habit. Fruits are red, oblong, (extremely rare) and bog spicebush, L. juicy, spicy berries. Spicebush is an subcoriacea Wofford (rare, endangered), understory shrub of wet woodlands. both from the very southeastern United States. The genus is in the Lauraceae The wood of common spicebush is very . Other common names for light brown. There is no heartwood, common spicebush are northern or possibly only in stems of older spicebush, wild allspice, fever bush specimens. Stems are seldom over 5 and Benjamin bush; the latter is clearly cm (2 in.) in diameter and will hardly a corruption of the word benzoin. A ever exceed 10 cm (4 in.). Growth rings synonym is Benzoin aestivale Nees. are sometimes visible, sometimes not, Longitudinal surface of a glued up Lindera Linnaeus named it Laurus benzoin L., depending on growth conditions. The benzoin wood specimen now another synonym that clearly shows wood is diffuse porous. Vessels are small, less than 100 µm in diameter, yellow flowering, for its handsome that Lindera is closely allied to the aromatic foliage with deep yellow genus Laurus. equal in diameter all over the growth ring, solitary and in radial groups of 2 autumn colors, and for its red berries. The genus Lindera is named after the and 3. Perforation plates are simple, Formerly, leaves of this shrub were used Swedish botanist and physician Johann although sometimes scalariform as a tea and the fruits as a substitute for Linder (1678 - 1723). The specific perforation plates occur. Parenchyma is allspice. (Allspice, or Jamaica pepper, is epithet benzoin is of Arabic or Semitic paratracheal in irregular and incomplete the dried unripe fruit of Pimenta dioica origin meaning a resinous gum or rings around the vessels. Rays are (1 from Central America and the West perfume. The specific epithetaestivale -) 2 (- 3) seriate. Oil cells in xylem, so Indies, an important ingredient in the means ‘summer flowering’. characteristic in this family, are quite Caribbean cuisine with a rich peppery uncommon. Ground tissue consists of bouquet of flavours.) Leaves, Common spicebush is a shrub with a libriform fibres. bark and fruits were used medicinally. The wood of common spicebush is very hard, quite heavy (density 700 - 850 kg/m3 or 45 - 55 lb/cu. ft. airdry), fine textured and straight grained. The wood dries with little risk of cracking if cut along the pith and end-sealed before drying. When using sharp tools, machining is easy, although the small dimensions make machining dangerous. It glues well and can be sanded to a smooth surface. It is of a moderate to low durability and is easily affected by fungi. As far as known, the wood is not used, but it must be suitable for fine carving Transverse surface of an about 3-cm disc of and turning. The shrub is planted as Lens view of Lindera benzoin wood end Lindera benzoin an ornamental for its early, quite rich grain 10 World of Wood May/June 2016 Redvein enkianthus by Nelis Mourik #7460L This shrub is beautiful in flowering and autumn colors and is said to be the hardiest of all Enkianthus species. On the transverse surface its wood anatomy is of a stunningly ordered type. The full botanical name of this shrub (not in E. campanulatus). Another is Enkianthus campanulatus (Miq.) explanation is that the cluster of G. Nicholson. The genus Enkianthus flowers is initially enclosed by a comprises a total of 13 species, native corolla-like coloured involucre. When to Asia from the eastern Himalayas this opens, it appears it was ’pregnant eastwards into Japan. E. campanulatus of flowers’. The specific epithet is endemic to Japan (southern campanulatus is after the Latin word Hokkaido, Honshu and Shikoku ‘campana’ (bell) and means ‘bell- Islands). The Japanese name is furin- shaped’. tsutsuji. Not often used other names are pagoda bush and showy lantern. The wood of redvein enkianthus The Dutch name is Pronkklokje. is creamy to light brown. Stems of The German name Prachtglocke, cultivated specimens are usually not something like beauty bell in English, over 5 cm (2 in.) across, although but that name is only fictional. diameters of mature stems can easily Enkianthus is in the Ericaceae family. reach 10 cm (4 in.) across. Growth ring boundaries are distinct due to Redvein enkianthus is an erect- one or few wider spaced rings of branched shrub usually attaining 2.5 - larger earlywood vessels formed after 3 m (8 - 10 ft.), but it can grow higher, narrower spaced rings of smaller up to 9 m (30 ft.). Branches are often vessels in the latewood of the previous in whorls. Leaves are produced in year. The wood is semi-ring porous. clusters at the ends of the twigs, or are All vessels are lined up in narrow alternate on vigorous shoots, obovate tangential bands, the farther in the to elliptic and finely toothed, 2.5 - 6 growth ring the narrower the bands cm (1 - 2½ in.) long, and about half and the spacing are, and the smaller that wide. Flowers are bell-shaped, the vessels are. Sometimes there is a about 1 cm (⅜ in.) long, in pendulous quite an abrupt transition. This makes clusters, varying from whitish-pink the transverse wood structure look to white with pink striping and edges. very characteristically ordered. Largest Fruits are egg-shaped, also about 1 cm vessels are about 40 µm; smallest Longitudinal surface of a glued up (⅜ in.) long. The leaves lend it a great about 20 µm. Perforation plates Enkianthus campanulatus wood specimen beauty in autumn by turning to various are scalariform with 20 - 40 bars. The species is used for Bonsai shades between yellow and red. Parenchyma is scanty paratracheal. cultivation and as a cut flower. Rays are 1 - 6 (- 8) - seriate. The Nothing is known about use of the The genus name Enkianthus is uniseriate rays consist of square to wood in Japan, perhaps because of Latinized after the Greek words upright cells only. The multiseriate the small dimensions this wood might ‘enkûos’ = ‘pregnant’ and ‘anthos’ = rays have bodies with procumbent not be used. In view of its properties, ‘flower’. One explanation is that it is cells and uniseriate tails of square however, it must be very well suitable in reference to the pouched corollas to upright cells. Ray height is up to for small, fine carvings and turnings. found in the flowers of some species 0.6 - 0.8 mm. Ground tissue between the vessel bands consists of fibre tracheids. Redvein enkianthus wood is medium hard and medium heavy (density about 600 - 650 kg/m3 or 37.5 – 40.5 lb/ cu. ft., airdry). Texture is fine; grain is straight. The wood seasons well, without any difficulty and with only little tendency to crack. It works easily with all kinds of tools, although the small dimensions make it dangerous. It is easy to glue and can be finished by sanding to a very smooth surface. The wood is not durable and is easily affected by fungi. Transverse section of an about 4 x 5 cm wide Lens view of Enkianthus campanulatus stem of Enkianthus campanulatus wood end grain May/June 2016 World of Wood 11 Sixteen Year Wood Identification Project Just Completed by Gary Green #6654L By 1998 I’d been collecting wood Then came the arduous task of taking me previously and I recall that he specimens for a few years and had the crates apart. These were “panels” had remarked that of the commercial been a member of the IWCS for two about 3’ (~ 90 cm) wide and a bit over species I had supplied a very high years. Being a life-long woodworker, 8’ (~ 2.4 m) long, so there were short percentage was accurately identified. quite a few species of wood passed by boards tying the long boards together. I was unhappy that even a small me and I could recognize and identify This lattice-work was gun-nailed percentage was incorrectly identified, a number of them. My significant together with each nail clinched (shot but Guy always supplied me with the other Christine’s dad, Eddie was in through both boards and bent over on correct identities. his 70s and was working more or less the backside). So it was far more than full time at a manufacturer of enclosed a matter of prying the pieces apart and At about the same time Nelis Mourik utility trailers. His duties ranged from pulling the nails. I decided that there #7460L, from the Netherlands, agreed office courier to building maintenance was way more wood here than I could to help. Indonesia was once a Dutch and he was a working fool, to say the ever process in a lifetime so I decided possession and after World War II the least. He didn’t waste a minute and that I’d only keep the more than 8’ Dutch were very interested in studying everyone he worked with respected long boards and they had to be at least Indonesian woods to see which would him. When he wasn’t at work on a big 1/2” (~13 mm) thick and 3” (~ 75 mm) be suitable for rebuilding their country. project, he would busy himself with wide. Obviously, crate wood is not So Dutch collectors had a very good something, including cutting up crates premium grade material, so only the collection of Indonesian woods for and pallets producing kindling for sound boards were worth the effort. comparison. Guy chose to remain those he worked with who heated their anonymous as he didn’t want to come homes with wood. out of retirement and get into the wood identification business. When referring I heat with wood and at that time was of Guy to others I just called him a home builder. I generated plenty of “John”. scraps for starting fires but Ed insisted on bringing me a big box of kindling. When he showed up with this huge box of scraps, I was obviously curious as to what species might be included and was flabbergasted to find an array of what appeared to be tropical Average quality of the crate wood hardwoods, red ones, brown ones, heavy ones and light ones. I told Ed I had to see where these came from. He surmised that they came from the packing crates that lauan (luan) plywood came in. “Show me! I’ll come over Monday!”, which he agreed to. A small portion of identified woods in This manufacturer used a lot of lauan question that got mailed to Raimund for a plywood and had a huge warehouse look full of crated plywood and each crate Guy has an engineering degree and was stenciled “Product of Indonesia”. Some of the exceptionally nice boards worked for the French National The wheels in my head were turning electricity company. He was a and I hoped someone in the IWCS I recall thinking that there must have manager responsible for the security could identify the woods and I’d make been at least a dozen different species of the nuclear . He’d always wood specimens to trade. I asked of wood in these crates. Yes, there had a love for trees and wood and was Eddie if he could save me some of were well over a dozen! I only found friends with a wood anatomist who these crates and he agreed. A couple out years later just how many there helped him at the lab he worked at. weeks later he called and told me to were. I started by taking baby steps Nelis was and still is an organ builder come over with a trailer and he’d load and grouped together several species and was very adept at identifying me up with a forklift. I was shocked that had the same color, texture and wood using the ‘GUESS’ program when I got there to find several big weight. The next step was to write a (http://what-wood.servehttp.com/). I stacks, more than would ever fit on letter to the editor of World of Wood selected several sets of boards that had my large tri-axle trailer. But Ed asking if anyone would be willing to features that made them easy to group insisted that I take them all and we assist in the identifications. By now together - same weight, color, grain, put a double stack on that trailer so it was 1999 and few members used smell, etc., and cut samples to send off tall that I was afraid of clipping power email, so I waited to see who would to Nelis and Guy. These were marked lines on my 30-mile (~ 50 km) trip respond. I soon got a letter from Guy by letter to keep them organized. home. Stopping to check my tie-down Simandoux #7800, from Versailles, straps every five miles, I made it home In early 2000, the results started France that he would help. Guy had trickling in. I decided that I wouldn’t driving at a snail’s pace. purchased some wood specimens from 12 World of Wood May/June 2016 consider it a positive identification hand lens became necessary to group unless Guy and Nelis arrived at the them together. Although I couldn’t same identification since they weren’t identify them, I was able to group comparing notes. I was astounded that them together and was confident that I for most part, they came up with the was grouping the same woods. same conclusions. I wasn’t then and am still not much of a wood identifier. By about 2005, I was down to a few I know how it’s done, but never had hundred boards, but they were so the time or the inclination to learn it similar that I decided to stand them and certainly respect people who know up ordered all around my shop based how. on color and weight and finish my part of the identifications. Many were Soon, I began making standard more similar than I anticipated. I specimens of the known woods and recall spending an afternoon trying Although not a fun task, labeling means that had so much nice short pieces of some to group these and decided that what these specimens are now finished. species that I sold some on eBay. I was remaining was beyond my ability now wish I hadn’t done that. I even to differentiate. In other words, they represented, but just typing the results made Ed a small “mahogany” side started to all look the same as viewed would have taken me a week! This table with no knots and only a couple by a hand lens. I had a bit of an allowed me to process and label a nail holes. By this time, I had kiln anxiety attack and had to walk away good many specimens. dried all of the wood and sent it out for awhile. Eventually, I put these In 2009, my “spousal equivalent” to be surfaced so that it would take up “subgroups” away for another time. Christine and I attended the IWCS less space and make it easier to group annual meeting in Soest, Netherlands, together same species, or so I thought. Meanwhile, the identifications continued to come from Guy and and had the pleasure of meeting Nelis some from Nelis, but I wasn’t sending and Willem and many other members any more material to be identified. I had corresponded with. We spent One day in early 2008, I received some time at the home of Willem and an email from Willem Hurkmans his wife, Marijke, and visited Willem’s #8761L, then from the Netherlands. home laboratory where he showed me In February, 2008, he visited Nelis, the set of slides he had prepared of who showed him the box of blocks these Indonesian woods. Now I began from me. I didn’t know it at the time, to get a feel for the monumental task but Nelis passed them over to Willem that he had volunteered for. Not only who volunteered to identify them in Willem, but Guy and Nelis as well. exchange for a specimen to add to While at this Soest meet, we chatted A truckload of Indonesian wood shavings his collection. “So, who was Willem headed to a neighboring farmer for animal about collecting wood in the US and bedding. Hurkmans and was he capable?”, I firmed up plans for a 2011 Texas asked Nelis. Willem is an expert at field collecting trip which was the I initially had about 400 - 500 board- this and at the time worked for Leiden subject of an article in WoW (January/ feet (~0.94 - 1.18 m3) of these boards. University with a huge reference February 2012). Willem came first to Mind you, some boards were so collection. my Indiana home, badly split, full of nail holes or eaten Very soon, I received up by insects that it was a challenge an email from Willem to get one or two standard samples with an attachment from them. Some were easy to group of 27 pages of his together as they had very obvious findings! This was characteristics. Of these, I continued a compilation of to send samples to Nelis and Guy. his notes listing Nelis was a working man and was International finding it difficult to find time to Association of Wood work on them. Guy had a fast turn- Anatomists features around time. So I continued making for each wood as specimens of the newly identified well as his personal woods. observations. In some In too many cases, I was learning cases, his conclusion that I was sending the same species was the genus and as previous, so felt that I needed to species, on others it get them all grouped together so I was the genus only, From left to right: Willem Hurkmans, Herm Stolte, Gary Green wouldn’t end up sending the same and for several there and Nelis Mourik at the 2009 IWCS International Meeting in Soest, was no conclusion. the Netherlands. Meeting friends over a nice beer is a very good woods out six times. It soon got to occasion for team spirit building and discussion of more serious the point that the differences in boards I have no idea as to how many hours of business, such as the identification of problematic specimens... were fairly subtle. A razor knife and Belgian Trappist Ale as a catalyst gives you results, not limited to work this document empty bottles... Continued on page 24. May/June 2016 World of Wood 13 Australian Wood No 83 stenophylla by Morris Lake #7634 river cooba Syn.: Racosperma stenophyllum Derivation: Acacia is from the Greek akakia (to sharpen). Dioscorides used the word in the first century AD for the Egyptian thorn tree Acacia( arabica) which is prickly. Stenophylla is from the Greek stenos (narrow) and phyllon (leaves), referring to its narrow leaves. A. stenophylla is a member of Group 14 identified by their flowers in globular heads in and flat, wide phyllodes. Family: Mimosaceae contains 40 to 60 genera with about 3000 species in Australia, America, Africa, Asia, Melanesia, the Pacific Islands and New Guinea. There are 17 genera with over 1100 species in Australia. Twelve genera and around 48 species are found in rainforests. Acacia, the wattle genus is the largest, containing more than 1000 species. They generally form a lower layer of trees or shrubs and are found in rainforests as well as open forests. They are a modern family known to be around 25 million years old.

Mature river cooba by the river Other names: River cooba is also known as munumula, balkura, gurley, gooralee, ironwood, Dalby wattle, river myall, belalei, eumong, native willow, black wattle, and dunthy. All of these names reflect the fact that it is spread over such a wide area of Australia that it is called by a different name in nearly every place. Distribution: River cooba is very widely distributed in inland arid areas from north-eastern Western Australia, east through the Northern Territory, to Queensland, where it grows west of the Great Divide, and south to the Murray, Lachlan and Darling River system in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia between Lake Eyre and the Murray River. It usually grows in heavy soils along watercourses which are subject to periodic flooding where it frequently forms monospecific stands. The tree: River cooba is a somewhat bushy tree growing to 20 metres (~ 66 feet) high, with a tendency to sucker. The bark is hard and tough, finely furrowed and dark brown to blackish. The branches are normally pendulous, which leads the tree to have weeping foliage as its characteristic form. The foliage (phyllodes) is tough, strap-like, dull green, up to 40 cm (~ 16”) long, 2–7 mm (5/64” – 9/32”) wide, innocuous with an acute to acuminate, often curved form. The creamy white to pale yellow flowers are globular and each flower head consists of 30-40 minute, individual flowers. Seed pods are grey or bluish-grey, 10-20 cm (4” – 8”) long, thick, leathery and are strongly constricted between the seeds. This species is rarely utilised by livestock, although it is reported to be good fodder for sheep. Flowering branches

Wood of Acacia stenophylla The heartwood is red-brown with light yellow sapwood. The grain is straight. It is very hard, heavy, fine-grained, nicely marked and takes a fine polish. It has an air dry density at 12% moisture of 960 kg/ m3 (60 lb/cu. ft.) . There have been considerations for the species to be grown in plantation with possible harvesting around 30 years so there could be potential for commercial use of this species..

14 World of Wood May/June 2016 Australian Wood No 84 Acacia tephrina by Morris Lake #7634 boree Syn.: Racosperma tephrinum Derivation: Acacia is from the Greek akakia (to sharpen). Dioscorides used the word in the first century AD for the Egyptian thorn tree Acacia( arabica) which is prickly. Rigens, meaning stiff, refers to the stiff phyllodes. Tephrina is from Greek for grey, or ash-grey and which refers to the colour of the leaves. A. tephrina is a member of Group 4 identified by their flowers in globular heads on multiple stalks and flat phyllodes. Family: Mimosaceae contains 40 to 60 genera with about 3,000 species in Australia, America, Africa, Asia, Melanesia, the Pacific Islands and New Guinea. There are 17 genera with over 1,100 species in Australia. Twelve genera and around 48 species are found in rainforests. Acacia, the wattle genus is the largest, containing more than 1,000 species. They generally form a lower layer of trees or shrubs and are found in rainforests as well as open forests. They are a modern family known to be around 25 million years old. Other names: It would appear to have no other common name. Distribution: It is found from Brunchilly and Benmara Stations, in the Barkly Tableland, Northern Territory and also in central Queensland, mostly west of the Great Divide, from Einasleigh, south to near Cunnam- ulla, but reaching the coast near Bowen. It grows mainly on heavier soils, including alkaline and saline clays, in tall open woodland and in drier areas of low woodland and shrubland. Mature boree trees The tree: This is a graceful tree growing to 20 metres (~ 66 feet) high and distinguished by its rounded canopy and silvery leaves. The bark is hard, fissured, thin, flaky, and grey to dark grey. The foliage (phyllodes) appears silvery grey because of a dense covering of flattened, silvery hairs.The leaves are straight to shallowly recurved, 7–11 cm (3 ¾” – 4 ⅓”) long, and 2–4.5 mm (5/64” – 3/16”) wide. The golden-yellow flowers are globular and clustered together on short stalks. The seed pods are usually sea-green in colour and lightly constricted between the seeds.

Ring figured heartwood top) and sapwood (bottom) Leafy branches Fissured, flaky bark

Wood of Acacia tephrina The heartwood is characterised by its rich, dark chocolate colour, which is bordered by cream coloured sapwood. It has an air dry density at 12% moisture of around 850 kg/m3 (53 lb/ cu. ft.). Boree is a durable wood and was used extensively by Aboriginals. In our culture it has been used for fence posts where graziers gave them a life span of 50 years or more depending on the soil type and the choice of log. It has also been used for wood turning, and bush furniture, and is considered to have a future potential for commercial usage. Boree wood has also been found with a very nice ring-figure ((also called blistered).

May/June 2016 World of Wood 15 Mark Peet #9804L - Elected IWCS US North East Trustee, Oct. 2015-2018 My name is Mark Peet and have been born and raised in the hands-on way of living life. My early years were shaped by the honest and challenging life of the small farm. This opened my eyes to the reality of life and death and the ever changing balances in life’s ever intertwining circles. When markets crashed and things got tight, life morphed. My father reverted back to his other hands on trade before my birth, carpentry. So from there on my life was influenced by wood. My older brothers became carpenters. I followed higher education and acquired a few equivalent degrees from Penn State. Shortly after graduation, I took up employment with Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for a brief stint and then moved into a role with the USDA Forest Service. Marriage and children moved my employment to change. To be closer to home, I joined employment with several different landscape companies. I’ve since settled into a school bus driving position and perform consulting on forest and ornamental stock on the side. I still work part time for a landscape firm as a senior crew leader with a focus on training summer recruits. My hobbies include participating in sport activities, aiding 4-H activities, supporting The American Chestnut Foundation, being a chair on the Greene Dreher Alumni Association’s scholarship committee, being a volunteer firefighter with Greene-Dreher Volunteer Fire Association, and teaching boy & girl scouts environmental education classes. And like many of you, I am pulled to assist many more activities than time to list.

Where do I see the IWCS? Great question; I see crossroads, and not just one set of them but several sets. We need to reintroduce our organization to youth and educational facilities across our area as well as the areas of our whole organization. As a trustee, I will not be able to actively participate in as many ways as I would like because I put priorities as God first, family second and work, in that order. What will I do? I will try to be available to our local regional members and represent them to the best of my abilities as well as get in touch with others in our organization. I expect our regional members to step up and assist me assisting them by providing information about activities throughout our vast area that could benefit our members. I hope to be able to send out mass e-mails and letters if need be to inform our members of these events. I hope to be able to staff an information booth at some of these events to bolster membership. I would love to meet up with others at some of these events to simply share in the experience. Good day, Mark... Guess What! In the year of 2017, the IWCS is having its 70th Anniversary. What would be a better way to celebrate than to attend the Annual meeting in Shipshewana, Indiana, USA? Roger and Lynn Pletcher #8016 from Elkhart, Indiana will be hosting the meeting. The date is planned for September 5 through 8, 2017. Registration will be on Tuesday and the celebration will be through Friday. The location is the Farmstead Inn in Shipshewana. Lodging is at the Inn. (Tell the desk you are an IWCS member for a discount on the rooms.) There is a nearby campground for those traveling with campers. Roger and Lynn are excited about planning different wood and craft classes and unique tours. There will be more details as times moves closer to the event. Be sure and mark it on your calendar. If you have pictures or things from past meetings please bring them along. 16 World of Wood May/June 2016 Newest Honorary Life Members by Garry Roux #6466HL Let me relate this little story that So after that meeting, he and his thinking of the enjoyment on their began a long time ago. Once upon wife joined the IWCS. Each year he faces when you acquired the wood a time back in the early 1990s, a sawed and never accepted any form either as a gift or from an auction man was hired to saw logs at the US of payment. Then as each year passed, at a meeting. The organization was Southeast Regional Meeting. He came they both became more and more devastated at the loss of a great prepared to ‘Saw Logs’. He arrived at involved attending more and more member and thinking we lost both the site, set up his mill and was ready meetings and hauling more and more of them. We were so very wrong for to start. “Where are the logs?“ To his real logs. Many a thousands of miles not really knowing her love of this amazement, the pile of short, twisted they both drove hauling and gathering organization and members. and small diameter items, “logs” that logs and lumber. All you had to do most people would use as firewood, was make a phone call and say what Still needing someone to chair was what we wanted sawed. He then we needed; before you even finished meetings she was still very willing knew we were ‘Wood Nuts’. the sentence you heard “No problem, to chair them; turned out to be 2 or 3 we will do it”. Then at a meeting, the more. Then the organization needed Many hours of sawing and only chairman asked if anyone would host a President Elect and she stepped minimal board feet were cut. This it for next year. With no hesitation they up to accept the position; knowing person was used to cutting thousands volunteered to chair the next meeting, she would be president in two years of board footage per day. After two which turned out to be 4 or 5 and also did not stop her. Then after about days of sawing, maybe 500 board chairing an annual meeting. One of three months, the President wished feet were cut. I would have loved to the meetings still holds the record for to step down due to health reasons. hear what he told his wife when he most funds raised at a meeting, about “Surprise! You are the first female got home each evening. But he knew US $17,500. president.” Despite being president we were very special people. That is she still continues to chair or co-chair how it all began. (I think he felt so Then the dear lord said it was time meetings, even the Southeast Regional bad about the amount of wood he cut, for him to come home. We were all for 2017. compared to what he was prepared to heartbroken because we all fell deeply cut, that he did not accept payment; in love with these two members. It It was my great honor to award instead fell in Love with this amazing was very hard the first year. You would Elaine and Manley Hunt the group of people.) go in your shop and see wood they Honorary Life Membership gathered, but then you would start award on February 13, 2016.

Regis-tree New members of the International Wood Collectors Society

May/June 2016 World of Wood 17 ...continued from page 8. Each scanned section was ‘microsurgically’ repaired on the image through a digital process, pixel by pixel and precisely restored to the likeness of its original condition by devoting countless hours of extreme patience. No traces of the minute hairline cracks were evident. I produced ‘abstract’ grain compositions from its unique ”hook-like” patterns.

Sunrise along the Rio Amazonas (Peru) photographed from the back of a fast boat creations was not an option for me. started a private herbarium and created for each properly identified species a complete *Special thanks to the late Jim King pressed botanical voucher mounted on for his contributions to researching and and framed with its own wood. He invited sponsoring the eventual identification of Peruvian and foreign experts to identify this beautiful species. trees, to assess the impact of logging by low impact means on the forest soil, Timber grain composition, created from sent specimens for identification abroad, endgrain of pink flame wood (showing (The Editor’s Note: Jim was an and also commissioned collection of sections of insect holes) entrepreneur dealing in fancy wood wood technological data. His company for crafts. He had a vision to valorize exported this wood to the US for a while. With such a striking timber at risk of local wood in order reduce the need for He passed away in 2012 and this unique, being reduced to little more than a pile deforestation for charcoal by finding local citizen-initiated timber of shattered crumbs and with years in the and foreign markets for select species at identification project faces making, ruining or losing one of nature’s higher prices and return a higher revenue an uncertain future. for the local landowners for the wood. He Book Review: New Lens View Atlas by IWCS Member #9554 by Nelis Mourik # 7460L IWCS members Willem van de Groepand and his son Jochem are authors of the new books the titles of which translate to “Loupe Photos – Arranged by Genus” and “Loupe Photos – Arranged by Family”. The images speak for themselves in all languages. A total of 491 full color lens view images of commercial hardwood timbers and some other woods from ornamental trees and shrubs have been compiled as an aid to wood identification at the hand lens level.The two books contain the same images in different arrangements: in one book alphabetically by genus name (Loepfoto’s – indeling naar Geslacht”) and in the other book grouped into families within which the species are ordered alphabetically by genus name (Loepfoto’s – indeling naar Familie). This way, the interested wood enthusiast can chose the book that matches the order of specimens in one’s own wood specimen collection. The introduction is in Dutch and trade names in Dutch are also included. Nomenclature and other information are from The List (www.theplantlist.org). In a few cases the Germ- plasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) (www.ars-grin.gov) was also consulted. Linear magnification of all lens view pictures is12X . The caption gives the family, species, many com- mon trade names, source of information ( or GRIN) and status of name record. These books were authored, edited, and published by the authors. These 55-page hardcover books are profes- sionally bound (glued) and the size is 28.6 cm x 21.5 cm ( 11 ¼” x 8.5”). Price is € 37.50 for one book, or € 70.00 for the set, postage not included. For more information visit www.lensviewatlas.com or send an e-mail to [email protected].

18 World of Wood May/June 2016 Use of DNA for Verification of Wood Legality by Chuck Cannon1 and Chai-Shian Kua2 #10024

1. Director, Center for Tree Science, Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois 60532, USA 2. Global Tree Conservation Coordinator, Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois 60532, USA DNA is a mysterious and amazing a unique DNA sequence for each of the forests. molecule. Encoding all of the species or geographic location so instructions that create and run an that the identity is unambiguous but DNA for Wood Identification organism, the simple code of two unfortunately, this is often not true. pairs of nucleotides holds the secrets Therefore, multiple ‘genetic markers’ Over the past several decades, of biology and life. From the basic can be used to construct a ‘fingerprint‘ the importance of legality in the cellular functions to the social profile for identification. However, international timber trade has become behavior of primates and ants, all of many factors such as drying, chemical increasingly obvious to both consumer the necessary information is contained compositions, high temperature, and and producer countries. The dynamic in a DNA sequence. DNA is also a long-time storage affect DNA quality between consumer and producer very rugged molecule, the double and quantity remaining in the wood. countries is complicated because helix structure being quite stable and most of the producing countries are robust. It persists in tissues long after But your genetic markers are only as developing tropical countries, often the organism dies and can be detected good as your database. The Icelandic with weak governance and rapidly by modern DNA analytical techniques. medical data set has been a big boon expanding infrastructure, while the A growing number of examples exist for medical genomics in humans. consuming countries are developed of DNA being extracted for very old Large databases are being created for and considerably wealthier on a per animal and human remains, dating our crops and domesticated animals so capita basis. Most of the pressure back hundreds of thousands of years, that we can better understand and being successfully sequenced their functioning, in the and analysed. In regards to human hopes that we can improve evolution, evidence for hybridization them. Unfortunately, very between modern humans and little exists for the vast Neanderthals has been produced from majority of tree species, as DNA sequences of 200,000 years old their genomes (the complete bone (1). set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or Much of wood and all of the organism) have not been the heartwood is dead tissue. Unlike focus of many efforts. The most tissues in living organisms, the stunning breakthroughs over conducting elements of the xylem the past decade in next- only begin to function after the cells generation DNA sequencing die. These dead cells are interwoven technologies have changed with living cells of the radial and the game fundamentally. The axial parenchyma and live fiber. capacity, accuracy, and A tropical oak (Lithocarpus platycarpus) being cut down in Even heartwood, which is all dead, cost of sequencing entire a forest reserve in the Belum region of northern Perak state contains partially degraded cellular genomes are improving in Malaysia. The chainsaw operator was working in the area DNA. This DNA, like other ‘fossil’ already and the tree had been marked to come down during at a rapid pace and it is the forest inventory. The author asked the logger to bring evidence, can be used to identify now feasible for a small it down with a heavy heart. The samples have been used in the wood. Palaeogenetic analyses collaboration of scientists several scientific studies. have been successfully performed to completely sequence on waterlogged archaeological and analyze a genome, without any for sustainable forestry and certified oak wood from the English Tudor prior research or data existing for that legal timber has come from consumer flagship Mary Rose, preserved in genome. countries, whose populace is a marine environment for more concerned about environmental costs than four centuries (2). The very These technologies create the of illegal logging in biodiverse tropical long strands of DNA (measured in opportunity for pursuing a completely rainforests, while producers have little megabases, 1 megabase =1,000,000 new avenue for verifying the legality incentive to meet these standards, base pairs) that form a chromosome of wood, particularly as it is traded given the often weak enforcement become fragmented during the cell’s over international boundaries. The in their own country and the small death, leaving DNA in short pieces. world’s forests are being challenged dividend provided by being ‘green’. Fortunately, the stretches of DNA by many trends in the global market In this situation, consumer countries sequence used for identification economy. Generally, wood is are now trying to more tightly regulate are themselves quite short. These undervalued and many countries do international trade and what products identifying pieces of DNA, called not adequately capture the full revenue are coming into their countries. genetic markers, represent a known for their forests and its products. Stricter laws have been implemented sequence of base pairs, are often less Strong enforcement tools for legal to require that importers must verify than 1000 base pairs long, and come harvests could improve this revenue that their imports were harvested from a known position in the genome. capture and lead to better management legally. ...continued pn page 28. The most informative markers provide May/June 2016 World of Wood 19 Eric Krum #9467- Appointed IWCS Corporate Membership Coordinator, April 03, 2016 Eric Krum has recently been appointed as the IWCS Corporate Membership Coordinator. Eric was born in Huntington, NY, but has lived all over the US as his family moved around a lot due to his father’s job. Eric joined the US Army and ended up living all over the globe to include two tours in South Korea and the Middle East. Retiring in 1995 from the U.S. Army as a logistics and acquisition officer, he is currently working as a lead information technology engineer for the MITRE Corporation working for the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology in the area of cyber defense. He lives on a wooded lot in Maryland with his wife Paula and a myriad of animals. One nice thing about living in northern Maryland is the large selection of wood species as the area along the Chesapeake Bay is the northern edge of many species that grow in the south. Furthermore, it is the southern boundary of many species that grow in the northern areas of the North America. Eric joined the IWCS in 2010. Eric has had a true love of wood all his life and has been collecting wood and making saw dust for over 40 years. His wood collection, while including a couple hundred standard wood samples, is mostly in larger sizes for making saw dust. Eric’s goal is to collect samples for all the native North American woods. He really enjoys making useful items out of wood both flat and round wood objects. Eric is slowly building a collection of wood species from across the globe in the form of three (3) inch (~ 7.5 cm) diameter turned wood boxes. In 2015, Eric designed a flyer for the IWCS and asked vendors from across the wood related industries to distribute the flyer to their customers on behalf of the IWCS. The flyer is designed to introduce the society to people who order wood and other related items. His effort to contact and work with the vendors lead to his nomination as the society’s Corporate Membership Coordinator. Eric asks that if you know a local wood store who would be interested in setting up an IWCS display in their store and offer a copy of the IWCS Flyer to their customers, please drop him an email at [email protected] for some flyers and dispenser (see three examples above) to give to the store. It will take all of us working together as a team to get the word out about the IWCS to potential new members and to get vendors’ support.

The 2016 IWCS and the Australasian Annual General Meeting Will Be Held In Charleville Outback, South West Queensland, Australia The official program will run from Monday, Sept. 12. to Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. This meeting will feature the inland woods of Australia. We will hold our meeting in the Raceview Complex at Charleville race track which has three excellent rooms with plenty of space to set up displays, sample swaps, auctions, etc. Our program will include inspection of a wide range of trees on Maryvale Station, Morven and Aughatella, including mulga, emu apple, bowyakka, poplar box, wilga, false sandalwood, native orange, and silver ironbark to name a few. We will also visit Tregole National Park with dense stands of ooline (Cadellia pentastylis) south of Morven. Local attractions in Charleville include Royal Flying Doctor Service Base, WWII American Air Force Base near RFDS Hanger & School of Distance Education (incorporating School of the Air) to name a few. The AGM and a craft day will all be part of the program. Our host tree will be bowyakka (Acacia microsperma), of which we will see some fine individuals around, and have both standard specimens and wood of other sizes available. Please advise us in advance as to what sizes, other than specimen size, you might require – email Col Martin [email protected] or Brian Davis [email protected] General inquiries Harry Dennis (#9260) [email protected]. Attendees wanting to do tours either prior or after the event may find these websites useful: www.ourtbackspirit.com.au/tours, www.outbackausietours.com.au, www.reef.outback.com.au, Alternatively there are numerous tour operators in Queensland offering tours of outback or barrier reef, etc. Registration form and further details are on IWCS website (www.woodcollectors.org).

20 World of Wood May/June 2016 May/June 2016 World of Wood 21 2016 Florida Winter Woodfest Meeting Report by Mihaly Czako #5220L The 2016 Florida, USA, regional identification, rather it was to instruct meeting started out with few people, on the wood structure. Eleven people other than those who showed for the attended. Duane recommended business meeting, but many more tools for doing this at home. He arrived during the following days. commented that a 16x 1-inch hand Frost was forecast for the east coast of lens is sufficient for most purposes. Florida but it did not affect us in Eustis He provided sets or 36 specimens at Lake Yale. In fact, it turned quite total. Duane pointed out that if at all warm and protection against the sun possible to identify, hold the specimen was necessary. bark side up, when trying to observe and read features, especially of ring Much wood was on the grounds near porous woods. There were multiple the tent, but not much inside the tent sets of specimens, so everybody got at first. Hmm..it made us wonder, but to work. Several printed handouts by the time of the wood auction, there were also distributed that covered was plenty of wood inside the tent as the information presented and were well. something tangible to take home.

Another new wood from Montgomery Botanical Center - black sapote (Diospyros digyna) has a vivid golden yellow sapwood and areas of brown with darker brown or olive stripes.

Inside the wood auction tent Turning demonstration by new member Lee Sky

Duane Keck ‘s students with demonstrations or open turning sessions. Duane Keck conducted a morning and an afternoon session on wood anatomy on Thursday, Feb. 11. The objective was not to teach

Interesting new wood was brought from the Montgomery Botanical Center, Coral Gables, Florida by Alan Curtis and Don Lown - Indian gooseberry, Phyllanthus emblica. The small meeting rooms were busy

Mark Weaver Jr. has worked a lot day after day at the wood mill Jean Sumner’s slide presentation explained how she and Lloyd, her late husband, designed and built their home, The Nautilus House, from hundreds os species of woods in an Duane’s study specimens were numbered and Duane Keck introducing wood parenchyma bolted together in groups of five. eco-friendly style. types 22 World of Wood May/June 2016 Barbara Mills gave a presentation on the Honor Flight program and donations were collected during the session. Our donations were acknowledged and thanked – see letter on page 21.

Robert Ritchie is very good at and is happy describing the items in the craft auction. told to prepare for something. Then Garry reappeared, rather his Pink Fairy alter ego, and his helper Lucy Cruise had a load of things in boxes. They did not seem like the door prizes; we were Items on the craft auction table: New Zealand tree done with those already. President fern, logwood (Haematoxylon campechianum) David Mather cutting a sabicu (Lysiloma Elaine Hunt was kindly summoned to and bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus) burr, sabicu) log (the yellow sawdust is from black the podium – try figuring Garry’s tone among others. sapote that was sawed at the same spot) out, what with the Pink Fairy’s dis- cordant appearance and the somewhat disconcerted way of wearing it. Garry would not want the outfit to be taken for anything more than what the pow- ers it endowed him with. Elaine, elated that the program went well and her du- ties were over for now, was surprised, a little nervous, not knowing what to expect. The audience was equally lost, chuckling or nervously giggling, or The youngest member of the Weaver family, Outdoor bench and moose statue chainsaw just gasping. Elaborate proceedings in showing the bidders an interesting piece - his carved by Dan Collom, Rosedale, IN, are ‘test jest ensued with suspense mounting. hard work is greatly appreciated. driven’ and promoted by the past presidents Garry presented Elaine with many, a present - from left to right - Art Lee, Alan Curtis, barrage, of gifts and props, complete and Garry Roux, while President Elaine Hunt is with pink hair and a special wand, and at the speaker’s podium. thus transformed Elaine to Wonder Woman, and that is when it turned serious. Elaine and the late Manley Hunt were recognized at this meeting as the miracle makers, whose voluminous contributions to the success of many Exhibits in the main auditorium Florida meetings, and whose services

A generous donation by Harry Rae to the craft auction. Take your game to a different level, or a different plane rather; why should chess be limited by gravity? Made from maple and Siberian peashrub (Caragana arborescens). IWCS members have a great collective talent - David Mather is a published author. First Past President Garry Roux want Garry reading the long list of to mention the possibility of having contributions of Elaine and Manley Hunt. Hints were dropped - too subtle to pick his Pink Hospital Gown brought with to IWCS in various capacities were up on – throughout the meeting, in a him? Or what would he be recruiting honored and rewarded by presenting voice a bit too loud for conversation the other Past Presidents for? The craft them Honorary Life Membership. with a person next to one. Why would auction concluded and everybody was Please read Garry’s words on page 17. May/June 2016 World of Wood 23 ...continued from page 13. Although I’m not the most patient we collected in Texas, then returned person and I was anxious to wrap up home, where Willem spent over a this project, I could certainly under- week. He agreed to have a look at stand that a recent retiree would want my remaining Indonesian woods to do what he wants to do, so I was with the plan to group like woods prepared to wait years if need be. I together. I thought this would be a didn’t record the date, but within a rather simple task for someone with couple months I received an email Willem’s knowledge. He made a razor from Raimund and Nelis with an cut on the end grain and examined attachment of pages of Raimund’s every piece with his hand lens. Each findings. I was ecstatic! Now it was was marked with an identification just a matter of finding the time to take number or letter, or both; a task of this stack of lumber and process it into about two days. He made immediate standard specimens. Remember, this Specimens staged on my 40’ (~ 12 m) long identifications of many to the genus was crate wood full of defects, cracks, workbench ready for sanding and labeling with amazing accuracy. I felt bad insect damage, nail holes, etc. Quite (“No, you shouldn’t”. – Willem) that a few of these 8’ boards were so poor many of these, some being new to this I put a house guest through that much that they wouldn’t yield even one collection. This was a good thing! trouble, but was delighted to now have specimen. So the going was slow. To By September of 2015, I was nearing this part of the task done. complicate things further, some of the the end of this project but, alas, a few boards which had been grouped by The next step was to get a more in question got sent to Raimund. number didn’t seem to match each oth- I assumed he had to be growing weary representative piece from each group er. I didn’t want to chance producing shipped to Willem’s home for a “real” of all of this but he assured me that misidentified specimens, so I further it was a learning experience for him. identification. I agreed to send three separated them and labeled each with specimens from each along with extra By early 2016, all identifications and a letter following Willem’s assigned specimens were made and all are now material to be cut/sliced/sectioned for number and sent these to Raimund. identification. As I recall, this was 6 labeled. Many, many are now sold or Flat Rate Priority Mail boxes worth. This turned out to be a good idea as traded and in the hands of collectors I’m told that one set went to Nelis and my hunch was correct and Raimund worldwide. Following is this list of another to Henk Bakker whom I also came up with different identities on woods: ...continued on page 26. met in Soest. By this time, Willem had donated his specimen collection to Botanical Name Common Name Family NEHOSOC and was now acting as the Acacia cf. mangium akasia Mimosaceae first custodian of the collection. aff. Cathormion sp. cathormion Rubiaceae Soon after, in 2013, Willem’s life got aff. Magnolia sp. chempak Magnoliaceae rather complicated as it was found that aff. Metadina sp. meraga Rubiaceae Marijke would benefit from taking a aff. Serianthes sp. boboy / jeungjing Mimosaceae retirement sooner than later as they Aglaia sp. ta-shua Meliaceae had planned. So they made some whirlwind plans and soon moved Alstonia sp. pulai Apocynaceae to Crete (Greece). Willem handed Anisoptera sp. mersawa Dipterocarpaceae over his set of yet-unidentified wood Beilschmiedia sp. medang Lauraceae specimens to Nelis, shortly before Calophyllum inophyllum mentangur / laurelwood Calophyllaceae moving to Crete. Soon after, Nelis contacted me that he had found a new Calophyllum sp. bintangor Calophyllaceae player, Raimund Aichbauer from the Cananga odorata kananga / ylang-ylang Magnoliaceae Netherlands, willing to continue the Canarium denticulatum canarytree / kedondong Burseraceae job, in January, 2014. Nelis notified Canarium sp. kedondong Burseraceae me that Raimund was a recent retiree Careya cf. arborea tummy wood Lecythidaceae and a fellow member of NEHOSOC and together they would work on the Cratoxylum cf. arborescens geronggang Hypericaceae identifications. Raimund would do Cyathocalyx sp. mempisang Annonaceae the identification by hand lens and Dacrycarpus imbricatus dacryberry, common Podocarpaceae microscope, using NCSU’s ‘Inside Dactylocladus stenostachys jongkong Wood’ program, and Nelis would check the results. ‘Agrees’ would be Dillenia sp. simpoh Dilleniaceae OK, doubts and ‘disagrees’ would Dipterocarpus sp. keruing Dipterocarpaceae go into a discussion process until an Dryobalanops sp. kapur Dipterocarpaceae ‘agree’ would follow. I was warned Duabanga moluccana benuang laki Lythraceae that Raimund was just retired and Durio sp. durian didn’t want to spend all of his time doing wood identifications, so be renghas rengas patient. Gonystylus sp ramin Thymelaeaceae 24 World of Wood May/June 2016 Book Review by Mihaly Czako #5220L Dictionary of Plants used in Cambodia = Dictionnaire des Plantes utilisées au Cambodge = Rukkhaj ̅ati proeprâs knu ̇n prades Kambuj ̅a. by Dr. Pauline Dy Phon, 2014, Phnom Penh, Cambodia: published by the author. 915 p., hardcover, 29 cm. It can be ordered from www.marymartin.com. Price is US $ 55.00 plus postage. This is the first photographic flora of Cambodia. Ms. Pauline Dy Phon, doctor of botany of Cambodian origin, devoted her entire career to the study of Cambodian flora. She died in 2010. (The bibliography of her works is available athttp://aefek. free.fr/travaux/news00010ae1.html). Her dictionary systematically presents some 1254 edible, medicinal, dye, and timber species used in Cambodia. For all species, names in Latin, Khmer, English and French (when the names of these plants exist in English and French) are provided. There is a brief botanical description and the various uses are presented. The dictionary contains many color photos. Each species is illustrated either as a B&W drawing or a color photo of the live plants or the herbarium specimen. This is the only source of information on the uses of a great many woody species in the region. For example, those of Dalbergia entadoides Pierre ex Gagnep. (illustrated by color photo), a robust liana used for temporary construction. Its root is traditional medicine for fever and the young leaves are consumed as vegetable. This book is becoming rare but it is a good investment if you are interested in the flora of Cambodia.

The above mentioned website has a link (http:// aefek.free.fr/travaux/iso_album/wholebook.pdf) to a free electronic English language publication entitled “Cambodian Tree Species Monographs” produced in 2004 by the Cambodian Tree Seed Project funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA, http://um.dk/ en/danida-en/). This set of monographs cites many of Dr. Dy Phon’s works and describes 21 species. Each monograph is entitled by the Latin name. Cambodian name, other common names, family, and Cambodian commercial grade of the timber are listed under the first subheading. This is followed by paragraphs on the habitat and distribution (illustrated with a color vegetation map), botanical description, phenology (flowering and fruiting times), fruit and seed, seed collection, sowing and germination, as well as seedling production. There is a section on uses as well as current status of conservation and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List classification. Color photos of the tree in its habitat, the fruit, seeds, and seedlings are of good quality. A list of references is provided at the end.

May/June 2016 World of Wood 25 …continued from page 24. Botanical Name Common Name Family Yes, a sizeable listing, some produced javanica lumbayao Malvaceae only a few standard specimens while Heritiera littoralis looking-glass tree Malvaceae over 300 Dipterocarpus sp. specimens were made. By my count, 2,987 Homalium sp. malas Salicaceae specimens were made with 578 still Hopea cf. odorata merawan Dipterocarpaceae available. For sure, one of the best Hymenodictyon orixense jati awang Rubiaceae of each found a place in my personal Intsia sp. merbau Caesalpiniaceae collection. If you’re interested in any of the remaining 578, contact me for Irvingia malayana pauh huse Irvingiaceae an inventory list. Kingiodendron cf. alternifolia danggai Caesalpiniaceae In hindsight, had I known how many kempas Caesalpiniaceae hours would be spent by so many Koompassia cf. excelsa tualang Caesalpiniaceae people, I’m not really sure I would Koordersiodendron pinnatum bugis Anacardiaceae have pursued this. I know I spent a Litsea or Persea sp. medang Lauraceae couple hundred hours (don’t really Mangifera sp. mango Anacardiaceae want to know the total) and I’m sure that the hours spent by the above Melia sp. kakera Meliaceae named assistants number into the Michelia montana champak Magnoliaceae hundreds. I’m thinking that the only Nauclea aff. subdita tjangtjaratan Rubiaceae payment to these assistants was wood Nauclea orientalis bangkal Rubiaceae specimens, so I’m hoping it was a labor of love for them. Neonauclea sp. bangkal Rubiaceae Nothaphoebe sp. medang Lauraceae Somewhere in this project prior Palaquium sp. nyatoh Sapotaceae to Raimund stepping in, several unidentified specimens were sent to Parashorea malaanonan seraya, white Dipterocarpaceae Mihaly Czako and one in particular Parashorea sp. seraya, white Dipterocarpaceae piqued his interest as he noticed Payena leerii nyatoh Sapotaceae a camphor odor upon opening the Pellacalyx sp. merbuloh Rubiaceae mailing box. He never told me how many hours he spent but he Pentaspadon sp. pelaju Anacardiaceae would send weekly or monthly Planchonella obovata menasi Sapotaceae updates and I’m assuming it was Polyalthia aff. hypoleuca metapis Annonaceae many. He narrowed it down to the Pometia pinnata taun Sapotaceae Dryobalanops genus, and based on the aroma, was hoping to narrow Pterospermum javanicum. bajur Malvaceae it to the species, but this was not Pterygota cf. horsfieldii ochoro Malvaceae possible because more than one Sandoricum sp. santol Meliaceae species of Dryobalanops, including. Shorea aff. kunstleri balau merah/heavy dark seraya Dipterocarpaceae D. aromatica, has camphor and the Shorea cf. balanocarpoides meranti, white Dipterocarpaceae published anatomical data would not permit identification to species level. Shorea sp. seraya, heavy red Dipterocarpaceae Shorea sp. meranti, red Dipterocarpaceae On his part of this project, Willem comments: “I was thrilled - and Shorea sp. meranti Dipterocarpaceae honored, as I am certain that Nelis Shorea sp. Anthoshorea section meranti, white Dipterocarpaceae and Raimund also were - by the Shorea sp. Eushorea section balau, yellow Dipterocarpaceae intellectual challenge of identifying Shorea sp. Rubroshorea section meranti, light red Dipterocarpaceae such a large range of woods. Also it’s Shorea sp. Rubroshorea section meranti, dark red Dipterocarpaceae very satisfying if you can put your knowledge to good use. Moreover, Shorea sp. Richetia sub-group meranti, yellow Dipterocarpaceae the identification work created a lot of Sindora sp. sapetir Caesalpinicaceae goodwill, leading to donations, some Swintonia sp. merpauh Anacardiaceae substantial, of wood specimens to the Syzygium cf. acuminatissimum kelat Myrtaceae [NEHOSOC, http://www.nehosoc.nl] Reference Collection.” Syzygium sp. kelat Myrtaceae Terminalia cf. bellirica ketapang / bastard myrobalan Combretaceae “Specimen collectors please note, many times the specimen(s) key Trema sp. mengkirai Cannabaceae out, using the keys and illustrations Vatica sp. resak Dipterocarpaceae of the Inside Wood database; other Weinmannia cf. blumei riggit Cunoniaceae times the identification is doubtful. Xylopia sp. mendjangkan Annonaceae As an example might I mention the Lauraceae family, where there are 26 World of Wood May/June 2016 genera like Ocotea that present Select Bibliography: difficulties in this regard. Lauraceae Appanah, S. and J.M. Turnbull, A species cannot be identified without review of dipterocarps : , (e.g.) flowers in full bloom, ripe fruits, ecology, and silviculture. 1998, Bogor, &Kuala Lumpur, CIFOR & FRIM (ISBN etc., and sometimes even the genus 9789798764202). cannot be assigned with certainty. Chu, F.-T.F., Anatomical Features of The same certainly applies to the the Dipterocarp Timbers of Sarawak. The Dipterocarpaceae which is a major Gardens Bulletin, Singapore, 1974. 27: p. constituent of Indonesian forests. The 95-119. very fact that forest loggers, who are Desch, H.E., Dipterocarp timbers of the in principle very familiar with the Malay Peninsula. 1941, Kuala Lumpur, species they are culling, are unable to Malaya: Caxton Press. distinguish between them, but resort Liu, P., F. Chen, and J. Yang, to assigning them to trade groups, is Raimund’s microscopes and part of his Identification, properties and uses of some reference book collection Southeast Asian woods. 1988, Yokohama & telling. Of course, the same difficulties Beijing, ITTO reflect in e.g. reference collections - wood specimens, one of the main InsideWood. 2004-onwards. Published on several validated specimens, reliably goals of IWCS, but who gets stuck the Internet. http://insidewood.lib.ncsu.edu/ assigned to species, may be present, on the identification. If one has search but using wood anatomy, they just the woods, and the other has the Ogata, Ken; Fujii, Tomoyuki; Abe, cannot be reliably distinguished. It’s knowledge, together we can achieve a Hisashi & Baas, Pieter, 2008. for a good reason that Mihaly resorted great result. This is how IWCS works, Identification of the Timbers of Southeast to chemistry and physics to distinguish with an emphasis on ‘international’.” Asia and the Western Pacific. between Dalbergia species ( Kaiseisha Press. ISBN 978-4-86099-244-6 family)! Any and all identification Soerianegara, I. and R.H.M.J. Lemmens, Plant resources of South-East Asia. no 5 (1) methods of wood alone have Timber trees : major commercial timbers. limitations.” 1993, Wageningen; Bogor: Pudoc-DLO] ; Prosea Foundation. Soerianegara, I., R.H.M.J. Lemmens, and W.C. Wong, Plant resources of South East Asia No. 5(2) : Timber trees: minor commercial timbers. 1993, Wageningen, The Netherlands: Centre for Agricultural Pub. and Documentation. Sosef, M. and L.T. Hong, Plant resources of South-East Asia. No. 5 (3) Timber trees : lesser-known timbers. 1998, Leiden: Backhuys Publishers. Nelis’ identification samples displayed on the dining room table. On the left is the 1999 Sudarna, N.S., Anatomi dan identifikasi One quarter of the NEHOSOC Reference box, split in two. On the right, his portion kayu kapur (Dryobalanops) (Anatomy and Collection, which in all occupied 190 of the 2011 Flat Rate Boxes, 2 of the 6. All identification of kapur (Dryobalanops) metres (~ 625 feet) of shelf length and ran samples are clearly numbered and/or labeled. wood). Jurnal Penelitian Hasil Hutan / to well over 9,000 specimens, representing Nelis also noted that other people drink their Forest Products Research Journal, 1993. about 6700 species! Having the Reference French brandy on the living room table, not 11(1): p. 21-28. Collection makes a huge contribution to speaking of a good beer. Gary added that it identification work as it enables checking looks like his dining room table all of the time Editor’s Note: your specimens against (you hope) reliably and he is told that some people eat on those identified material. things… With reference to the terminology used in the listing of species, the Raimund comments: “Your story Mihaly comments: “I learned some term “aff.” (for the Latin “species shows that cooperation is the key to Indonesian while translating the wood affinis”) meaning “related but not success. It is a positive experience anatomy literature on Dryobalanops identical to the named species” is an of people from different countries species and learned much about open taxonomic category which is and backgrounds with a common the diversity and chemistry of usually applied to a species believed interest who are willing to share their Dipterocarpaceae.” to be undescribed by science or it knowledge and spend their time at indicates that the specimen is closely a joint hobby. Although it is time related to the named species but show My thanks to all who helped bring features that make it obvious that it consuming, the benefit is that, as a side this project to a conclusion and to all is a different species. The term “cf.” effect, I have learned a lot, especially of those who purchased specimens, (Latin for confer = compares with) is about the Dipterocarpaceae family. which I trust covered the costs of used sometimes to indicate that the As a result, I can now transmit this transportation, mailing many boxes specimen is very similar to the named knowledge to others.” overseas, kiln drying, planing, species, but has certain minor features machining, etc. All of this really only not found on typical specimens. Nelis comments: “As a member of a “Section” is a formal taxonomic society, it was my intention to help makes perfect sense to a collector. category below the rank of genus, another member who is putting so while “sub-group” is an informal one. much time and energy in supplying May/June 2016 World of Wood 27 ...continued from page 19. In the USA, the existing Lacey Act was expanded to include all wood products and the final amendments have been fully implemented. The proof of legality is typically based on a paper trail through the chain of custody. The chain of custody of timber products is obviously a critical aspect of legality. Once the tree is cut down and removed from the forest, following its route to the consumer through the supply chain is difficult without good records. Papers can be falsified. Something inherent to the material, such as DNA, would be the best evidence. These demands to prove the legality has led to the development of DNA based tests. The ability to extract DNA from wood in various conditions and ages has been demonstrated for more than a decade now. Again, even though the DNA is highly Typically, the logs are tracked by a simple paper system. The trees in the forest are tagged by a degraded when it is extracted from forest inventory team from the government. Each tag has several identical pieces. Each piece is wood, the marker sequences used attached to a log and one is left with the stump. In the log yard, these tags are noted as they leave for identification are typically quite the log yard. You can imagine this is a very easy system to cheat! short in length. The new next- can contain a unique marker for each one species to another during any gen DNA sequencing technologies species. The Barcode of Life project is hybridization event, the reliability actually require the DNA to be highly using a small number of standardized of these markers for taxonomic fragmented into small pieces prior to genetic markers, primarily from the identification can be weak, particularly the process of sequencing. cytoplasmic genomes, to create a in diverse genera with lots of closely The massive amount of genomic database for all species. To date, related species. Hence, these markers data being produced for a wide array DNA markers (the rbcL and matK fail exactly when you need them the of organisms will allow us to more regions of the chloroplast genome) most. Because of this tendency for quickly create meaningful genetic from approximately 330,000 species individuals of different species to markers for numerous purposes. One of higher plants have been deposited share the same chloroplast markers, obvious way that these markers could in the Barcode of Life database (3). nuclear DNA markers, which are be used would be in determining the Hence, it is possible to use DNA more species-specific than chloroplast legality of timber harvest. Because the sequences to identify a piece of wood DNA, can be included to the barcode. DNA is intrinsic to the sample itself, to genus level, but pinpointing to the But because of the genetic mixing of marker systems, and thus testing tools, species level can be challenging. nuclear DNA that occurs with each would be viable at almost any point generation, the relatedness of the in the chain of custody. There are These types of barcode genetic individuals becomes more complicated two main objectives for DNA-based markers typically use portions of the through time and requires a larger marker systems: 1) determine the genome found in the mitochondria database. taxonomic identity and 2) determine (animals) and chloroplast (plants). the geographic origin. The first test These organelles contain their own Generally speaking though, the ability could be used to prohibit the import of genome, separate from the one in to identify individuals to species is endangered species while the second the cell nucleus, and they are also possible, particularly when the species test would prohibit illegally logged inherited independently from the has no close relatives in the market. timber. Much progress has been made nuclear DNA. In most flowering For example, if a species is the lone for the first test while the second plants, the chloroplasts are inherited representative of a genus on the timber remains a very substantial challenge. from the mother plant or ovule while market, then the genetic markers for those from the pollen are rejected that species are easy to develop and Two Objectives from the zygote. This means that the implement. Teak is a good example, chloroplast DNA is not mixed with as it is the only species in the genus Species Identification each generation and the evolutionary Tectona and it would be difficult to history and genetic relatedness misidentify this wood. Often, these A major effort was initiated to create of individuals can be more easily distinct timbers also have distinct a barcode of life, based upon the determined. Unfortunately, as these wood anatomy, which makes the DNA idea that a short sequence of DNA organelles can be transmitted from based test unnecessary. 28 World of Wood May/June 2016 Again, DNA markers are most likely converge on a single genotype (genetic is considerably more challenging to fail when you need them the most. marker set), particularly of the and will require a great deal more chloroplast. resources. In 2011, Bioversity For most tropical timbers, things are International (Rome) (http://www. not so straightforward and a long list Two main methods for determining the bioversityinternational.org/), in of closely-related species may be on geographic origin of timber exist and collaboration with the German the market at the same time, coming they differ widely in their approach government, created a network for the from the same region. So, if one of and power. The first and most simple purpose of creating a comprehensive the species is highly endangered and is a point-to-point system where DNA geo-based database of genetic should be restricted on the market, samples are obtained either prior to markers. then the genetic marker system felling or immediately after felling. A needs to be carefully verified to database of genetic markers, different Database is Body and Soul insure that markers are unique for than the universal DNA barcode and the rare species. In these situations, specific to the felled logs, is generated All of these DNA marker systems the generic barcode approach using using standard procedures. gain their power and validity from a universal marker is unlikely to be the core database, which holds all sufficient but a specific set of markers The markers in this database can of the unique sequences related to for the protected species will need to then be used to verify the identity of taxonomic identity and geographic be developed. the logs anywhere along the chain of origin. In human criminal cases, the custody. This method requires the probability that two people share an Determining Geographic Origin cooperation of the logging company identical DNA fingerprint is based and can only be used to reward a upon the detailed understanding of the Another objective of DNA responsible producer and prevent frequency of these markers in human fingerprinting is to determine the the switching or laundering of logs populations. The database, which geographic origin of wood or wood along the supply chain. However, associates each individual genetic products. This approach is based this approach is labor intensive and fingerprint with each individual on the idea that the individuals of a could face logistical and even legal person, provides the meaning to these tree species in one location or one challenges, given the likely proprietary markers. Additionally, the database population are more closely related nature of the database and the lack of has to meet legal standards, not just to one another than they are to knowledge about the genetic variation peer-reviewed publication standards. individuals of the same species in a in unsampled timber beyond the single The evidence must be reliable and different location or population. From logging concession. transparent, therefore it should be large plots where every tree is mapped carefully maintained and protected, and identified, we know that the Without adequate testing, it is but it also should be as publically individuals of a species are generally impossible to know if the markers available as possible. clumped and basically form groves. are actually unique to the controlled We also know from biogeographic logs or the markers were simply Unfortunately, we are a long way from studies of several species, particularly missed in other populations. Double- obtaining a database sufficiently large in the Asian tropics, that trees from Helix Tracking (http://www. and accurate to reliably determine different landmasses and islands can doublehelixtracking.com/ ) is a the geographic location of a piece of be readily distinguished from one company in Singapore that has been timber. We must also recognize that another based on a single genetic using point-to-point technologies the biology of each species will greatly marker. for several years now, primarily on determine the actual resolving power merbau (Intsia), and has enjoyed some of the database. This technology The degree of spatial resolution success. will not be useful for all species but possible depends a great deal on the could be very effective for some. The biology of each species. If a species The other method is considerably advance of next-gen DNA sequencing has widely dispersed seeds, like a fig more difficult but would be much technologies can certainly change this (Ficus spp.), no strong geographic more powerful. This approach situation quickly, particularly if a short pattern would exist in the populations requires accumulating a sufficiently list of good candidate species, of both as the offspring may germinate many large and comprehensive database conservation concern and possessing hundreds of meters away from the for all populations of a protected an appropriate biology, were the mother tree. Likewise, if the pollen species and its close relatives and original target. While the database is typically travels a considerable associating the genetic variation with THE vital aspect of the application distance of hundreds of meters during the geographic distribution to identify of DNA-based technologies to the each pollination event, the geographic a DNA fingerprint for each location. international timber trade, it is unclear pattern would be weaker. On the other This type of database would provide who is going to pay for its creation. hand, while hybridization and gene a more effective tool over the market The most logical way forward is flow between species in a location as it does not require the cooperation focusing the point-to-point approach can make taxonomic identification of the producers and would provide onto particularly vulnerable species, difficult, this evolutionary behavior legally robust markers, given sufficient utilizing as much technology as is actually GOOD for determining sampling both taxonomically and possible. The market is also fairly geographic origin because all of the geographically. On the other hand, volatile as the market cycle for each individuals in that area will tend to the creation of an adequate database particular valuable hardwood can be May/June 2016 World of Wood 29 relatively short. If the development their forests are protected, they have other techniques. time for a marker system requires little incentive to manage the forest years, then the tool might only sustainably. Illegal logging cannot Last but not least, improvements in the become effective after the bulk of only be punished at the international ability to use simple wood anatomy the endangered species has been border, as the punishment does not need to be explored, like an automated harvested. actually reach the people conducting system for wood identification using the illegal logging. Illegal logging standard wood sampling protocols. Chain o’ Custody must also be punished at the local Like the genetic marker systems, the level. ability of wood anatomy to distinguish Even if the perfect DNA-based marker among species is reliant upon the system that could determine both To maximise the usefulness of creation of an adequate database of taxonomic identity and geographic the database and bring as many knowledge. Large central databases origin were created, several challenges contributors and benefactors as exist and continued training of wood to its successful implementation would possible to a mutual goal, the DNA anatomists is necessary. still exist. The most basic questions marker system should not just be used relate to simply who would maintain and designed for enforcement and References and verify the necessary database. punishment. If linked to important 1. S. Sankararaman et al., (2014): The Clearly, a third independent body phenotypic characters, like wood genomic landscape of Neanderthal needs to hold and regulate this data. quality or regeneration capacity, the ancestry in present-day humans. This type of system already exists for genetic markers could also be used Nature 507, 354–357. doi:10.1038/ certification schemes of sustainable to improve wild timber species and nature12961 pmid:24476815 logging practices in the field. Given potentially make them profitable in a regulatory body to maintain the a plantation model, as this type of 2. A. Speirs et al., (2009): Chloroplast database, who could then use the intensive agroforestry can be more DNA from 16th century waterlogged technology? Is it only valid at the easily regulated and can relieve oak in a marine environment: initial border, applied by government custom pressure from wild populations. steps in sourcing the Mary Rose agents or is it consumers, after the timbers. In: Archaeological Science purchase of the final product, who The potential for genetic improvement Under a Microscope: Studies in determine wood legality? Another is probably sufficient for the Residue and DNA Analysis in Honour issue is the increasing size and generation of a large database. This of Tom Loy (Eds. Haslam, Robertson, demand in the domestic market of production database could then be Crowther, Kirkwood and Nugent). producing countries, which are rapidly adapted for enforcement applications. Chapter 13 pp 165–179. Terra developing their own infrastructure Australis and economies. All of the wood on Finally, the best test for timber legality the international market could be on the international market will be a 3. http://www.boldsystems.org/ perfectly legal but the illegal logs then combination of technologies, utilizing are absorbed by the domestic market, the strengths of each approach. The 4. Espinoza, Edgard O., Cady A. which will be much harder to regulate. composition of stable isotopes in Lancaster, Natasha M. Kreitals, Ultimately, for this DNA marker a wood sample can reveal on what Masataka Hata, Robert B. Cody, system to be sustainable, it must type of soil and where in the world it and Robert A. Blanchette. 2014. clearly and fairly reward good grew. A promising new technology “Distinguishing Wild from Cultivated behavior over bad behavior. Good is gas chromatography coupled to Agarwood (Aquilaria spp.) Using producers must gain a clear premium time-of-flight mass spectrometry (4) Direct Analysis in Real Time and over illegal loggers. Additionally, a used recently to detect differences Time of-Flight Mass Spectrometry.” sufficient portion of the reward must in agarwood (Aquilaria spp.). Rapid Communications in Mass go back to the local level to support Apparently, this technology can also Spectrometry: RCM 28 (3). Wiley forest protection and monitoring. If distinguish among rosewoods, which Online Library: 281–289. forest managers cannot be sure that can be a great challenge based upon

WOOD MEET ideas or would like to give a class or favorite. The Recycled Wood Contest. February 8 – 12, 2017 demonstration please contact Elaine. If you have some wood that was one Southeast Regional Winter Woodfest thing and you can make it into something Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center – The Craft Auction will again be on new, bring it with you. The entries will be Eustis, Florida USA Friday evening and we ask that donations judged by the attendees and a prize will be handmade items, woodworking be awarded on Saturday evening. February may seem like a long way off tools, WoW collections and exceptional but it will be here before you know it. or rare wood. The Wood Auction will We are already looking forward to the Counting this issue (May/June) of WoW, be on Saturday. If you have any wood meeting and seeing old friends and we only have 4 issues left before the you would like to donate, please bring it making new ones. Come join us, there is meeting. Again, Patti Dickherber is in along when you come. The sawmill will enough fun for all. charge of the registration and Elaine Hunt be running each day and wood can be will be putting the program together. bought directly off the mill or you can Program: Elaine Hunt There is already a carving class, a craft take your chances at the auction. Anyone [email protected], 352-726-1717 class and the hands-on open turning buying wood must register and have a bid Registration: Patti Dickherber on the schedule. If you have any number. We will be bringing back and old [email protected], 317-740-6593 30 World of Wood May/June 2016 Member’s Listings and Requests Members with wood specimens and books for sale I am interested in doing some swaps. I have Over 1,000 different wood specimens WANTED: I am new to collecting and have 2,200 specimens 60 x 6 x 90 mm of all from around the world. Over one-third are about 150 samples at 25 X 25-50 X 300 mm sorts of imported and home-grown specially figured like blistered, curly, fiddle size. Due to my display, the thickness must woody plants. back,quilted, birds eye, mottled, burled and be at least 25 mm and length 300 mm. I am Lionel Daniels #6509 over 200 species from Vietnam. very interested in expanding my collection. Réjean Drouin #3589 I still need many common species as well as exotics. Please send a list of what you have available with prices. Thank you! 600-plus different kinds of wood specimens Bob Gilbert #10018 precisely crafted and labeled, most identified from trees in the forest. I have woods from the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Australia, and others. I have logs, planks & whatnot. Must sell off. A total of 491 full color lens view pictures Contact me for a list. Some are pretty rare: leadwood, S. African of commercial hardwood timbers and Alan B. Curtis #1132HL red ivory logs and planks, snakewood some other woods from ornamental trees logs, one ebony log from Belgian Congo, and shrubs have been compiled as an aid etc. Will send list. Link to wood collection to wood identification. Published by the I provide wood specimens from around the for sale is: https://picasaweb.google. author. € 37.50, excl. shipping. globe, accurately dimensioned, nicely com/102643740416360449393 Willem van de Groep #9554 sanded and labeled. I maintain a mailing Dennis Brett #257SU www.lensviewatlas.com list and send notification when new specimens become available. Contact me for a list. I have over 1,000 different specimens of Gary Green #6654L wood from around the world for sale or trade. I have some larger pieces of woods for collections of crafts from different wood species. Please send me your list for trade. www.woodsbygwgreen.com Contact me for my latest list. Dennis Wilson #2324L I have a good range of more than 400 species of Australian rainforest and outback woods in specimen size or as egg blanks. I will also cut to your requirements Attn. jewelry makers! I have boxes of Colin Martin #7189 scraps for those who make and sell wooden jewelry. I will pay postage. Once you have received the wood, ask me for the cost of postage. Look it over. Whatever you think I will sell the following books the scraps are worth, send a check for Useful Woods of the World $10 + postage that amount to IWCS Secretary-Treasurer of $4.25, More Useful Woods of the World and may include the cost of postage. Let $10 + postage of $4.25, A Man of the IWCS have the benefit of a couple bucks Woods (Richard Crow biography) $10 + contribution. postage of $3.90. All three books are a total Dennis Brett #257SU of $30 plus postage of $7.00. Dennis Wilson #2324L African Wood Specimens: Contact me for list of African species available. All woods from environmentally approved sources. Barry James #9380 Back Issues of World of Wood I can buy, sell and trade back issues of the magazine. Get the missing issues you need at $2 each, and less by the year or by the decade. Half of all proceeds go to the I have two or more specimens of more than IWCS endowment fund. Issues available 700 to 800 different woods from around the from 1948 on, free shipping in the USA. world in my stock. I would like to exchange Richard Kuehndorf #8593 or sell. They are standard or other sizes. [email protected] Contact me for my list. Dieter Becker #6362

May/June 2016 World of Wood 31 International Wood Collectors Society NON-PROFIT ORG 2300 West Rangeline Road U.S. Postage Greencastle, IN 46135 PAID Indpls, IN 462 Permit No. 8

WOW! Running out of ‘space’ collecting remote exotic timbers. Collecting Jupiter, moon and other terrestrial bodies from our solar system - colourful timber species collected from around the world. Image components photographed from the far reaches of our world including, Antarctica, Namibia, Svalbard, Amazonian Peru, and Norway - story by Vince Manna on page 4.