One of the lightest tree species is balsa wood

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:40

A tree is different for a tree - and not only in appearance (fruits and leaves), but also in the structure of wood. Most often, builders have to deal with the definition of which green space is more practical and durable. Oak boards, pine, linden - all these trees are well known to us. But in tropical America, balsa is the most popular. It is the lightest tree in the world.

Balsa wood

Balsa is a deciduous tree from tropical America. It has a very beautiful wood color. It is practically white, with yellowish or pinkish tints. Balsa is rightfully considered the lightest tree in the world, because its density is no more than 160 kilograms per cubic meter. For comparison: pine has a density of 520, oak has 760, linden has 550.

Another remarkable property of this tree is that when it is first cut down, the wood contains 90 percent moisture. Water quickly dries up in the sun and wind, but the trunk and branches do notturn into dust (as, for example, in a baobab), but, on the contrary, they gain the necessary strength. It is this property that makes balsa wood attractive for industrial use. Its materials are lightweight and have excellent sound and vibration absorbing properties.

Where are balsa materials used more often?

What is a balsa tree, we have considered. Now we will find out where the materials made from it are most often used. Balsa is very popular among aircraft modellers. And this is understandable. Even if you compare balsa with carbon fiber, the tree wins favorably. It is very easy to process, its cost is extremely low. Balsa also has excellent repairability.

If the wood is sawn correctly, then it, glued together, will last for many years, remaining as strong and reliable as at the time of cutting. The interesting thing is that during impact, the loads are absorbed by the material itself. It is also very important in aeromodelling. Fishing tackle is excellent from this tree. Balsa wood is often used to make water rescue equipment.

Birthplace of the balsa tree

As we have already learned, balsa is in great demand in the industry. Now it's time to find out where it comes from. Where does the balsa tree grow? The birthplace of this unique tree is considered to be the equatorial part of South America. You can see balsa in Indonesia, Brazil, Thailand, Colombia, Peru, Mexico and many other countries. However, the leader in this list is Ecuador - it is consideredthe main supplier of balsa wood (over 95% of the total volume).

The turnover from the sale brings a lot of money. Wood materials are bought up by both construction companies and tourist shops. They make everything possible from balsa - from simple and durable souvenirs to the most professional surfboards.

Growth and flowering

It is also noteworthy that balsa is a fast-growing tree. In just 10, at most 15 years, a balsa tree grows up to 30 meters in height. The life expectancy of the green plantation itself is no more than 30 or 40 years. Balsa blooms very beautifully - the first buds appear on it only after three years of life. This usually happens after the rainy season when the wood is getting enough moisture.

Unlike many plants, the flowers of this tree begin to open their petals in the late afternoon. You can admire the fully opened buds only at night - by morning they will close again. It is in the dark that pollination occurs - insects are happy to reach for a sweetish aroma. Most often, pollen is carried by bats, olingo, kinkajou. During the day, pollination can occur with the help of monkeys. Touching the buds, they willy-nilly knock out pollen from them.

Home use

Balsa wood is widely used in the economy. It is very easy to process. To do this, you just need a thin blade with a small angle of sharpening. But the color of the balsa is practically not amenable to - betterjust use water-based dyes that quickly absorb into the wood. But it is better not to use varnishes and oily substances. They won't stick to wood.

Distinctive qualities of balsa were found out by the ancient Incas. It was they who began to carve canoes from wood and make light and stable rafts. Wood is considered ideal for making brushes for calligraphy. But in shipbuilding, balsa wood is used to build decks and sides for small pleasure craft (usually not exceeding 30 meters in length, the size of an adult tree). Balsa is also used to make blades for wind turbines. It is probably difficult to come up with a more comfortable and lightweight material.

Interesting facts

Hare or wool tree, cotton is all balsa tree, the description of which would be incomplete without mentioning the fruit. Thanks to them, he got such funny names. Balsa fruits are boxes 30 cm long. Inside there are many reddish silky fibers in which the seeds are hidden. When maturation occurs, the bolls burst and expose their "insides". Fluffy fruits become very similar to rabbit feet or warm pieces of woolen blanket. Hence such interesting names.

It is noteworthy that years earlier, balsa and cotton were classified as the same species. A log of this tree can easily be carried away by one person. By the way, the tree does not have growth rings, because it grows continuously. And one more thing: it was from this tree that the legendary"Kon-Tiki", the ship of the traveler and archaeologist Thor Heyerdahl. And for comparison: balsa wood is 7 times lighter than other trees, 9 times lighter than water.