The material wood comes from trees. A tree is a plant which reaches over 6 metres. Most trees are seen to have a single trunk which in fact is the main stem. Every tree produces wood of different structure, colour and pattern, as craftsmen of furniture in bygone days well knew. The character of the wood is affected by a greater or lesser distance between branches, by the slow or rapid growth of the tree, and whether it was young or old when it was felled.  When we handle any wood, look at it closely, examine it with all our senses, as we can see that wood has certain special qualities - its "organoleptic" qualities - such as colour, grain, scent, taste, and texture.  

Wood is a flexible material. It can be made into many objects because it can be cut easily. Wooden furniture and objects are common in homes. Small items of wood origin include corks, paper, etc. For wood to last long, it needs to be properly dried and treated with paint or preservative. Wood is light but strong. 

What is Wood used for? 

There are two main categories of wood: hardwoods and softwoods. Wood material is useful in making houses and furniture. Hardwoods like oak or mahogany are tough and long lasting.  They are especially used for outer parts of buildings like windows and door frames. Hardwoods such teak and mahogany come from tropical rainforests.  The wood has rich colours ranging from deep yellow to deep red, is very hard and contains an attractive grain (pattern of wood).           

Softwoods come from conifer trees such as pine and spruce.  They are widely used for floorboards, wall panels and roof beams. Objects like fence posts, axe and hammer handles are made of wood. Some wood is turned into pulp for packaging and paper-making.  

Wood can also be the only source of fuel for cooking and heating for many millions of poor people living in the tropics.  This is collected either directly, or converted into charcoal, which is also used as an industrial fuel in steel-mills in South America.    

Paper  

Paper which we use to write on and to do our schoolwork on is made from wood and other plant materials like cotton rags. Paper can be used to make many other products, and it can also be recycled. 

Wood of the Future

Balsa wood is a strong and very lightweight wood, but supplies are dwindling, so replacement materials with similar properties are being developed. One of the most interesting potential replacements is called Safe Emulsion Agar Gel or SEAgel.  It is made from kelp extract (kelp is a type of seaweed).  SEAgel is a solid material but it is almost as light as air.  It weighs so little that it would float away in a gentle breeze.  As it is made from kelp, it is biodegradable and is also safe to eat.  Its uses will probably include packaging, refrigerator insulation and time-release drug capsules.

World's Tallest Living Tree 

The tallest living tree is found on the West Coast of U.S.A. It is a Coast Redwood tree, native to California and Oregon, and has a height of 111.25 m., almost as high as an Apollo space rocket or equivalent to a 40-storey HDB block.

Additional Reading

"Plants and Flowers of Malaysia" - by Ivan Polunin                                                                  "Trees" - by Allen J.Coombes                                                                                           "Medicinal Plants" - by George Graves