The Basic Wood Properties and Sawtimber Quality of South African Grown Pinus elliottii x Pinus caribaea

SYNOPSIS

P. elliottii X P. caribaea var. hondurensis cross performs extremely well in both Zululand and the eastern Transvaal, out-performing most other pines with regard to volume growth. It has favourable branching characteristics and an excellent stem form. Although it grows at about the same rate as P. caribaea var. hondurensis in Zululand, it has on average 35 % volume superiority over P. elliottii. It produces wood of medium to medium-high density and yields a high proportion of good quality timber.

The occurrence of resin cracks may be a problem in the eastern Transvaal but more studies would be needed to determine the severity of this phenomenon. Results indicated that typical P. caribaea-like knot-associated resin streaks seem to be quite common in the sawn boards obtained from Zululand P. elliottii x P. caribaea but they were found considerably smaller than those found in P. caribaea. Although this is not a degrading factor in structural timber, it may not be acceptable in timber designated for laminating or when physical appearance is of importance.