Xilotecnia of the wood of Schinus molle L. of a commercial forest plantation in Hidalgo, Mexico

The objective of this work was to determine the anatomical characteristics, physical properties, and estimate the mechanical properties of wood of four trees of Schinus molle L. (piru) from a commercial forest plantation in Tolcayuca, state of Hidalgo, Mexico. The study was carried out in the Wood Anatomy and Technology Laboratory at the Division of Forestry Sciences at the Chapingo Autonomous University. As a result, it was found that the color of the wood in the sapwood is pink, the heartwood is brown. The wood has no characteristic smell and flavor; ita has an average shine, pronounced grain figure, inclined fiber direction, and medium texture. The porosity is semi-diffuse and the axial parenchyma diffuse and scarce. The rays are uniseriate, biseriate and triserial. The vessels are short and abundant, the fibers are medium size and thin. The basic density is 0.54 and the calorific value of 17.246 MJ kg(-1). The lateral and extreme hardness in green condition was classified as medium and low respectively. By Runkel relationship pirul wood is classified as very good for pulp and paper. The total volumetric contraction is classified as medium. The total tangential contraction: very high and the total radial contraction: high. The anisotropy relation is classified as high. The fiber saturation point of the is classified as normal.