TIMBER PLANTS: DEFINITION, TYPES AND EXAMPLES - ENVIRONMENT - 2024

The woody plants are generally trees medium or large size are cut to remove the wood. This material will be used for certain purposes such as construction, paper, etc. Timber trees are broadly classified into soft, semi-hard and hard woods.

Today, more than 100,000 timber species are known, that is, with wood in its trunk and branches, but it is estimated that only 500 of these species are marketable. In addition, most of the wood obtained from these trees is used in other countries that are different and distant from those that are native.

This is governed by the international flora and fauna trade code and includes timber species suitable for commercialization and export. Although the work areas to obtain the wood are extremely extensive, it must be considered that several species are already in danger of extinction.

Plants, in addition to being used to extract wood or for construction, can have other applications such as medicine. In this sense, you may be interested in seeing: 50 medicinal plants and their healthiest uses.

Types of timber plants

As stated before, timber plants are classified into three types: hardwood, semi-hardwood, and softwood trees.

Hard woods

They are the best quality, since they clearly have more resistance, and are used for the construction of high-end furniture, floors, ceilings and even houses. They are expensive but have a superior quality that last for years compared to other types.

Semi hard woods

They are also used to make furniture and openings but of a lower quality. They are easier to get in the market, because they also have a lower price and are more accessible

Soft woods

For a quality issue, this type is not used for furniture or house construction, but to make more common products such as vegetable drawers, crafts and even paper.

The five timber trees most at risk of extinction

The high rate of illegal timber traffic contributes to the decline of some of the most valuable timber species in existence, for example: mulberry, mahogany and cedar.

These species and others are mainly affected by overexploitation and fragmentation of their habitat.

Although laws have been established worldwide with respect to the commercialization of these species, the reality is that defense organizations have tried, through all kinds of campaigns, protests and struggles to stop this practice although it has not yet been achieved. a concrete agreement.

-Boat: used to make baskets and footwear, also in the construction of canoes, boats and furniture, decorative plates and bodywork.

-Cedro: it is used mainly in fine furniture, boats, musical instruments, canoes and sculptures. An attempt is made, by all means, to prevent their exploitation.

-Mahogany: used for lathe work, boats, musical instruments, carvings, among others. If its trade is not regulated, it may be one of the most affected species, since it is also one of the most used.

-Cinnamon: it is a source of fiber, iron and calcium. Used as an anesthetic, it is also a substitute for cinnamon, to flavor food.

-Palorosa: it has an oil that is used in the manufacture of perfumes and soaps. Its wood is used to make veneers, floors, tool handles, etc.

Timber trees according to their leaf

Timber trees are also classified according to their leaf:

Fallen Leaf

They are the trees that, depending on the season and the weather, will remove 100 percent of their leaves. For example, in the coldest times of the year, both autumn and winter, these are the trees whose leaves change color, until they dry, wither and then fall on their own.

These same trees in the summer or spring times begin to show a green, leafy, colorful layer. This has a reason for being, and that is that this tree, when it is “undressed” in winter, allows the sun's rays to reach the ground faster, and its natural humidity evaporates, among other advantages.

In summer, its large canopy provides pleasant shade and protects the soil from its natural moisture.

Evergreen

They are those trees that, regardless of the weather or the season, retain all their leaves. These trees make their leaf changes, but it is no longer according to the season, but in a slower and longer way, taking up to 10 years to renew their foliage.

Timber plant inventory

• Chiche (Aspidosperma megalocarpum)
• Palo Maria (Calophylum brasiliense Cambess)
• Flying Guayabo (Scientific name: Terminalia Amazona)
• Spring (Cybistax donnell-smithii or Tabebuia donnell-smithii Rose)
• Huanacastle (Enterolobium cyclocarpum)
• Red ant (Platymiscium dimorphandrum)
• Oak (Tabebuia pentaphylla (L.) Hemsl. Quercus oleoides)
• Mulatto stick (Bursera simaruba)
• Cedro and C. Rojo (Cedrela odorata or Cedrela mexicana)
• Cuaulote (Guazuma ulmifolia)
• Pava tail (Hymenolobium mesoamericanum)
• Otate (Bambusa Vulgaris)
• Guarumbo (Cecropia obtusifolia)
• Manaca (Scheelea Peruzzi)
• Bamboo (Class Guadua angustifola)
• Chalum (Ingas)
• Mountain shark (Dracaena americana)
• Rosita de Cacao mill (Quararibea funebris)
• Palo bread (Artocarpus altilis)
• White leaf (Calathea Lutea)
• Pacaya (ChamadoreaTepijilote)
• Juste or Ramon (Brosimum Alicastrum)
• Ylang Ylang (Cananga Dorato)
• Cinnamon (Cinammon)
• Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao)
• Patasthe (Theobroma Bicolor)
• Mamey (Pouteria sapota)
• Avocado (Persea americana)
• Guanabana (Annona muricata)
• Lemon (Citrus Limonum)
• Coconut (Cocos Nucifera)
• Achiote (Bixie Orelana)
• Soap (Sapindus saponaria)
• Palmax (Real Palmaceas)
• Neem (Azadirachta indica)
• Yaite (Gliriceda Sepium)

Plant timber trees or the end of the activity?

The forestry activity produces a lot of profitability, but a very big disadvantage. The time it takes to harvest. But this brings another drawback.

As it is an activity that has been carried out for a long time, the workers in the sector have been more concerned with extracting to take advantage of the resources, than with replacing what was being extracted. This brings up the question, and later the debate, whether this resource, and this activity: does it have a deadline? Or even worse, does it have an expiration date?

In some areas where there are few timber plants left, they continue to use leaf and branch waste, and this is turning the production of other products into ones of low or at least doubtful quality.

Therefore, it would be necessary to consider whether this activity in a few more years will continue to bring profits to producers and benefits to consumers.

References

1. 38.edufuturo.com.
2. eltiempo.com. Spain. El Tiempo newspaper (2017).
3. Timber plants (2016). Recovered from: misitiowebdmvs. Mexico.
4. Timber trees. Recovered from: eljardin.ws.
5. ECOLOGICOSLAAURORA AVENIDA CENTRAL S / N 30680 COL FRANCISCO SARABIA TUZANTAN CHP. Recovered from: ecologicoslaaurorasc.com.mx.
6. abc.com.py (2017) - Yegros- Asunción. Paraguay.