VARIABILITY BARK-TO-PITH AND ALONG THE TRUNK OF COLD AND HOT WATER SOLUBILITY OF THE WOODS OF Eucalyptus microcorys AND OF Eucalyptus pllularis

Variation in the bar-to-pith and along the trunk of three 20-year old trees of two eucalypt species was determined according to ASTM standards. Samples were taken at 3 cm intervals in the bark-to-pith direction and at every two meters along the trunk. Both cold and hot water mean extractive contents showed a tendency to increase in the radial direction, with maximum values in the most recently formed heartwood. Internal layers of wood also showed a tendency of increasing extractive contents with height. In the external layers extractive contents were the same along the height or, in a few cases, showed some reduction. Water solubility of sapwood was lowest.

Key words:
Eucalyptus; Extractive contents; wood technology.