Plane (Platanus orientalis and P. occidentalis).—The first species inhabits the Levant and adjoining countries, growing 60-80 ft. high and up to 8 ft. diam. The wood is more figure,d than beech, and is used in England for furniture ; in Persia, it is applied to carpentry in general.
The second species, sometimes called " water-beech," " button-wood," and " sycamore," is one of the largest N. American trees, reaching 12 ft. diam. on the Ohio and Mississippi, but generally 3-4 ft. Tbe wood is harder than the oriental kind, handsome when cut, works easily, and stands fairly well, but is short-grained and easily broken. lt is very durable in water, and preferred in America for quays. Its weight is 40-46 lb. a cub. ft.; cohesive force, 11,000 lb. ; strength, 92 ; stiffness, 78 ; toughness, 108.
Poon (Calophyllum Burmanni). —This tree is abundant in Burma, S. India, and tbe E. Archi pelago. It i8 tall and straight, and about 6 ft. eirc. It is used for the decks, masts, and yards of ships, being strong and light. Its texture is coarse and porous, but uniform : it is easy to saw and work up, holds nails well, but is not durable in damp. Its weight is 40-55 lb. a cub. ft.; cohesive force, 8000-14,700 lb. Another species (C. angustifolium) from the Malabar Hilla is said to furnish spars.
Poplar (Populus spp.).—Five species of poplar are common in England : the white (P. alba), the black (P. nigra), the grey (P. canescens), the aspen or trembling poplar (P. tremula), and the Lombardy (P. dilatata); and two in America : the Ontario (P. macrophylla), a,nd the black Italian (P. aeladesca). They grow rapidly, and their wood is generally soft and light, proving durable in the dry, and not liable to swell or shrink. It makes good flooring for places subject to little wear, and is slow to burn. It is much used for butchers' trays and other pm poses where weight is objectionable. The Lombardy is the lightest and least esteemed, hut is proof against mice and insects. The weight ia 24-33 lb. a cub. ft. ; cohesive force, 4596-6641 lb. ; strength, 50-86 ; stiffness, 44-66; toughness, 57-112. Poplar is one of tbe best woods for paper-making (see p. 1193).
The trees alsu yield an oil (p. 1427).
Pymma (Lagerstramia regince).— The wood of this abundant Indian tree, particularly in S. India, Burma, and Assam, is used more than any except teak, especially in boat-building, and posts, beams, and planks in house-building. Its weight is 40 lb. a cub. ft. ; cohesive force, 13,000-15,000 lb. ; breaking-weight, 640 lb.
Pynkado or Ironwood (Inga xylocarpa).—This valuable timber tree is found throughout S. India and Burma. Its wood is hard, close-grained, and durable ; but it is heavy, not easily worked, and hard to drive nails into. It is much used in bridge-building, posts, piles, and sleepers. Its weight is 58 lb. a cnb. ft. ; cohesive force, 16,000 lb. ; breaking-weight, 800 lb.
Rata (Metrosideros lucida).—This tree is indigenous to New Zealand, giving a hard timber 20-25 ft. long and 12-30 in. sq., very donee and solid, weighing 65 lb. a cub. ft.
Rohun (Soymida febrifuga).—This large forest tree of Central and S. India affords a close grained, strong and durable wood, which stands well when underground or buried in masonry, but not so well when exposed to weather. It is useful for palisades, sleepers, and house-work, and is uot very difficult to work. Its weight is 66 lb. a cub. ft. ; cohesive force, 15,000 lb. ; breaking-weight, 1000 lb.
Rosewood.—The term " rosewood " is applied to the timber of a number of trees, but the most important is the Brazilian. This is derived mainly it would seem from Dalbergia nigra, though it appears equally probable that several species of Triptolemea and Machcerium contribute to the inferior grades imported thence. The wood is valued for cabinet-making purposes. The approximate London market values are 12-25/. a ton for Rio, and 10-22/. for Bahia.
Sabicu (Lysiloma Sabicu).—This tree is indigenous to Cuba, and found growing in the Baliamss, where it has probably been introduced. Its wood is exceedingly hard and durable, and has been much valued for ship-building. It has been imported from the Bahamas in uncertain quantities for the manufacture of shuttles and bobbins for cotton-mills. The exports thence were 167 tons in 1878, and 101 tons in 1879.