Comparative studies on juvenile and mature wood properties within stems and between stands of Metasequoia

摘要

The radial variation patterns in tracheid length, basic density, cellulose, lignin, pentosan and extractives contents of Metasequoia glyptostroboides were reported in this paper. The analyses of anatomic features, chemical composition and physical and mechanical properties of juvenile wood compared with mature wood within stems and between stands were done systematically too. Its juvenile period was about 13-18 years. The juvenile wood properties were distinctly worse than the mature ones. Being very soft, brittle and weak, the metasequia wood was not suitable for construction timber. Its dry boards may be used for making wooden products. Additionally, the metasequoia had a very long tracheid, large tracheid length-to-width ratio, small dual wall-to-cavity ratio, great compliance constant and high cellulose content. Its wood resources were good for pulping and papermaking.