TWO GROUPS OF TREES

Woods are classified into two main groups, softwoods and hardwoods. Trees are
either coniferous (bears cones and have needle shaped leaves that stay green all
year round) or deciduous (has flat leaves that fall in autumn). The timber that
comes from the coniferous tree is known as softwood and the timber that comes
from deciduous trees is known as hardwood. Although the terms suggest that
softwoods are soft and easy to cut and shape and those hardwoods are hard and
more difficult to shape this is not the case. For example, balsa wood which is noted
for its lightness and softness is actually classified as a hardwood.

STRUCTURE OF WOOD
The structure of wood (II)

Wood has extreme anisotropy because 90 to 95% of all the cells are elongated and vertical (i.e.
aligned parallel to the tree trunk). The remaining 5 to 10% of cells are arranged in radial
directions, with no cells at all aligned tangentially. The diagram below shows a cut-through of a
tree trunk:

A cut-through of a tree trunk

In the trunk there are three main sections, the heartwood, which is physiologically inactive, the
sapwood, where all conduction and storage occurs, and the bark, which protects the interior of
the tree trunk. The two main types of tree, softwoods and hardwoods, have distinct internal
structures. Coniferous trees are softwoods, with vertical cells, tracheids, 2 to 4 mm long and
roughly 30 m wide. These cells are used for support and conduction; they have an open channel
and a thin cell wall:

Cross-section of tracheid cell typical of a softwood

The storage cells, parenchyma, are found in the radial direction. Scots pine is an example of a
softwood tree. Below is shown a 3D model of the trunk interior of Scots pine made from
micrographs of sections cut in the tangential, radial and transverse planes:
Note: This animation requires Adobe Flash Player 8 and later, which can be downloaded here.

Broad-leaved trees are called hardwoods. The vertical cells in hardwoods are mainly fibres,
which are 1 to 2 mm long and 15 m wide. These are thick-walled with a very narrow central
channel and are for support only.
Cross-section of fibre cell found in hardwoods

These cells are unsuitable for conduction, and so the tree needs vessels for this purpose. Vessels
are either xylem, which are dead cells that carry water and minerals, or phloem, which are live
cells and transport energy sources made by the plant. Vessels are 0.2 to 1.2 mm long, open-ended
and are stacked vertically to form tubes of less than 0.5 mm in diameter. Hardwoods also have a
small number of tracheid cells, and parenchyma cells are still present radially for storage. Both
balsa and greenheart wood are examples of hardwoods. Below is shown a 3D model of the trunk
interior of greenheart made from slides taken in the tangential, radial and transverse directions:

CLASSIFICATION OF LUMBER

Classification

Lumber is classified according to its USE, SIZE, and EXTENT OF MANUFACTURE. When classified according
to use, lumber falls into three categories:

1. YARD LUMBERgrades, sizes, and patterns generally intended for ordinary construction and general building
purposes

2. STRUCTURAL LUMBER2 or more in. in thickness and width for use where workingstresses are required

3. FACTORY AND SHOP LUMBER produced or selected mainly for manufacture of furniture, doors, cabinets,
and other millwork
Table 6-1.-Common Woods
Table 6-1.-Common WoodsContinued
Table 6-1.-Common WoodsContinued
Table 6-1.-Common WoodsContinued
Table 6-1.-Common WoodsContinued

Nominal, rough, green lumber has three general classifications, according to size, as follows:

1. BOARDSless than 2 in. thick and 1 or more in. wide. If less than 6 in. wide, they may be classified as strips.

2. DIMENSIONat least 2 in. thick, but less than 5 in. thick, and 2 or more in. wide. It may be classified as
framing, joists, planks, rafters, studs, and small timbers.

3. TIMBERSsmallest dimension is 5 or more in. They may be classified as beams, stringers, posts, caps, sills,
girders, and purlins. Lumber classified by extent of manufacture consists of three types as follows:

1. ROUGH LUMBER is not dressed (sur-faced) but sawed, edged, and trimmed to the ex-tent that saw marks show
in the wood on the four longitudinal surfaces of each piece for its overall length.

2. DRESSED LUMBER is surfaced by a planing machine to attain a smooth surface and uniform size.

3. WORKED LUMBER is dressed and also matched, shiplapped, or patterned.