FNR 27 1978
forestry & natural
MARKETING AND UTILIZATION resources
SOME IMPORTANT INDIANA HARDWOODS THEIR CHARACTERISTICS AND USES
Daniel L. Cassens
Extension Forest Products Specialist
Heartwood can be classified as durable, moderately durable, or non-durable. Since durability within a species can also be affected by other factors, it is generally best to use wood pressure treated with a wood preservative if high resistance to decay or insects is required.
The following pages will provide further information concerning the characteristics and uses of many Indiana species. It is not exhaustive, but will illustrate some properties and common uses.
The broad-leaved deciduous trees of Indiana, collectively referred to as hardwoods, are known the world over for their excellent quality. They are famous for many special products such as furniture, face veneers, handles, crates and pallets, barrels, and an infinite variety of everyday items.
Several evergreen or softwood species such as white pine, jack pine, Virginia pine, larch, hemlock, cypress, eastern arborvitae, and eastern red cedar are also native to Indiana. With the exception of eastern red cedar, most of these trees occur sporadically or in very small isolated stands and are not of commercial importance. Red cedar, however, is common and can be found throughout Indiana. Some of the pines have been used for reforestation projects and for horticultural purposes.
Physical and mechanical properties of wood such as color, weight, hardness, and type of grain determine the use of the various tree species. Because of the beautiful color and characteristic grain figure of their wood, high quality logs of red and white oak and black walnut are widely sought after, both in this country and for export. Lower quality material of the oaks may be converted into crossties, pallets and other rough products. Woods such as elm and beech, which bend easily when steamed and hold their shape when dried, are commonly used for furniture parts which require bending. Very hard and heavy woods such as hickory, dogwood and beech are good for fuel.
Most tree cross sections of hardwoods show a conspicuous dark central core surrounded by a light colored outer band. The dark core is called heartwood and the light band sapwood. The heartwood of some trees, such as osage orange and eastern red cedar, is naturally durable or resistant against decay and insects. Heartwood from these trees makes good fence posts, while the sapwood of all species is nonresistant to decay and insect attack.
PURDUE UNIVERSITY • COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE • WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA 47907