Virginia has many tree species that yield a rich variety of wood, each with its own unique structural, physical, and mechanical properties. These differences determine a species’ suitability for products. Because wood is a readily available and popular material, it is important that enthusiasts and professionals be able to distinguish between different species. For example, how would a barrel manufacturer tell the difference between red oak, which doesn’t hold liquids, and white oak, which does?
Magnified view of cross-sectional vie of sassafras showing pore and size structure. By Brian Bond.
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