Author : Elyazar Manuhuwa

Summary : Two trees of kaatoan bangkal (Anthocephalus chinensis Rich ex Walp) were studied. These trees were randomly selected and collected from a 15-year old plantation in the Makiling Experimental and Demostration Forest at Los Ba¤os, Laguna, the Philippines. Samples representing five segments from the pith, two radii and three height levels were used in determining the trees' specific gravity, fiber dimension, and pore frequency. Four radii were prepared for measurement of fiber saturation point. The study was done to determine the influence of fiber dimension, pore frequency, and specific gravity on fiber saturation point. Fiber diameter and lumen width were the major factors that caused the increase in the fiber saturation point of unextracted wood, while specific gravity was the major factor that caused the decrease in the fiber saturation point. Results show that fiber wall thickness did not vary with specific gravity but varied with fiber diameter and lumen width. The extractive substances influenced the fiber saturation point. The average fiber saturation point of Kaatoan bangkal without extraction was 20.04 percent. However, when the extractives were removed, the fiber saturation point increased to 24.04 percent.