Collapse phenomena in eucalypts

Summary Trees belonging to the genus Eucalyptus are specifically prone to developing damage due to collapse soon after felling. Observations on 150 trees of five Eucalyptus species from two growth sites, indicate that collapse occurs in the wake of the receding liquid water supposedly moving from the heartwood fibres into the rays, and from there to the vessels of sapwood and to the pith (heart shakes), respectively from where it evaporates. Collapse was observed over the entire cross section of stems. Anatomical evidences suggest a collapse modifying process across the stem from the pith to the cambium. Generally, the stresses generated cause tangential flattening of fibres and open radial/longitudinal splits in the tissue. Fibres seem to collapse in radial strings and also in small lumps scattered over the xylem. Based on their effect, the level of collapse stresses must be greater than the cross-grain tension strength but smaller than the longitudinal compression strength of the wet wood. The results suggest that the prediction of collapse susceptibility of standing trees is possible.This investigation was sponsored by the South African Mining Timber Manufacturers Association, the University of Stellenbosch and the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, Pietermaritzburg whose support is gratefully acknowledged here