Summary
This is a study on the shrinkage of wood representing the wide range of morphology variation in leaning trees. It involved 13 trees of Eucalyptus regnans, one of Eucalyptus sieberi and four of Pinus radiata, and specimens taken at close intervals around the circumference of each. Data indicated a systematic modulation, between extremes at upper and lower sides of each stem, in longitudinal growth strains, relative proportions of thin, medium and thick-walled fibres, microfibril angle in the S2 layer of these, and both Klason and acid-soluble lignin content. Analyses indicated that the microfibril angle in S2 was a prime factor in influencing both longitudinal and volumetric shrinkage reactions; proportion of thick-walled fibres in the tissue, thickness of S2 relative to S1, and variations in lignification also were involved. Unusually thick-walled fibres were associated with visco-elastic strain recovery effects, which could form a substantial part of dimensional changes apparently attributable to shrinkage.
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Relevant to 10 of the E. regnans trees in this study, appreciation is expressed to three colleagues for providing access to the detailed data on strain, cell wall thickness, and volumetric shrinkage involved in their published study [Nicholson, J. E., Hillis, W. E., and Ditchburne, N. 1975]. By prior arrangement to minimize duplication of effort, their data were derived from specimens from those trees that were involved in this study.
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Boyd, J.D. Relationship between fibre morphology and shrinkage of wood. Wood Sci. Technol. 11, 3–22 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00353597
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00353597