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Chapter 08: Comments on, and additional information for, wood identification

Formally Refereed

Abstract

This manual has described the theory of identification (Chapter 1), the botanical basis of wood structure (Chapter 2), the use of a hand lens (Chapter 3), how to use cutting tools to prepare wood for observation with a lens (Chapter 4), and the characters used in hand lens wood identification (Chapter 5) before leading you through an identification key (Chapter 6) and species description pages (Chapter 7). I hope that by this point you have developed a greater understanding of the principles and practice of field wood identification. Having spent considerable time and effort learning the rudiments of this scientific and artistic discipline, you may now have many additional questions. Below I attempt to answer some of the questions I have anticipated and direct you to additional resources if what is offered below does not fully satisfy your curiosity.

Parent Publication

Keywords

wood identification, hand lens, Central America, Central American woods, commercial timber, pattern recognition, wood identification process, biology of wood, wood anatomy, wood structure, scientific names, loupe, macroscopic, sample preparation, surfacing, cutting, characters, vessels, rays, parenchyma, identification key, species description, similar woods, species summaries, wood collection, wood identification references, InsideWood

Citation

Wiedenhoeft, Alex C. 2011. Chapter 08: Comments on, and additional information for, wood identification. InIn: Identification of Central American Woods. 2011. Forest Products Society, Madison, WI. Publication #7215-11, ISBN 978-1-892529-58-9. pp. 159-163.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/42224