Abstract:
The anatomy and properties of three species (terap, medang, and balik angin) from secondary forest in Kawasan Hutan Dengan Tujuan Khusus (KHDTK) Lambung Mangkurat University, South Kalimantan were investigated. Wood blocks were collected at 1 cm interval from the pith to the bark. Transverse, radial, and tangential sections (15-30 μm) were prepared from softened wood blocks and stained with safranin. The section were then dehydrated in degraded alcohol, deeped in xilen, and mounted in Bioleit.Transverse, radial, and tangential section images were captured using a digital camera (Olympus, EPE 3, Japan) attached to microscope (Olympus, BX51, Japan), transferred to personal computer, and analysed with ImageJ software (National Institute of Health). It was found that the wood from those three species had distinct growth ring, but unclear in terap wood in the end of growing period. Vessel is solitary, some multiples 2-3 in radial direction in terap wood, medang wood has small until medium size, solitary and multiples 2-3(4) in radial direction, balik angin wood had small size vessel, solitary and multiples 2-4 in radial direction. The results from this study suggest that those three species suitable for construction, veneer and plywood, pulp, cabinet making, and tool handles.
