Wood Color Variation in Anatomical Sections of Cedrus libani from Two Mediterranean Regions
Wood color is an important factor influencing the aesthetic and commercial value of timber products. This study aimed to clarify the natural color variation in Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) wood and its relation to anatomical structure and environmental conditions. Samples were collected fr...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
North Carolina State University
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BioResources |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/24812 |
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| Summary: | Wood color is an important factor influencing the aesthetic and commercial value of timber products. This study aimed to clarify the natural color variation in Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) wood and its relation to anatomical structure and environmental conditions. Samples were collected from two regions in Türkiye (Kaş and Senirkent), differing in elevation and climate. Stem sections from four trees per region were analyzed by separating the pith, heartwood, and sapwood. Color properties were measured using a spectrophotometer in the CIE L*a*b* color space, resulting in 2670 data points. The results showed that sapwood exhibited the highest lightness values (L*), with averages of 65.3 in Kaş and 65.8 in Senirkent, while pith displayed the lowest lightness (59.4 in Kaş, 61.6 in Senirkent). Total color differences (ΔE) between anatomical parts frequently exceeded the perceptible threshold (ΔE > 3), reaching up to 16.7 in the pith and 14.9 in the heartwood of some samples. Moreover, Kaş samples generally exhibited greater color variability than Senirkent, with average ΔE values of 13.4 (pith), 12.6 (heartwood), and 7.0 (sapwood), compared to 9.43, 10.57, and 6.14 in Senirkent, respectively. These findings highlight the combined influence of anatomical and environmental factors on wood color and provide insights for selecting timber for aesthetic purposes and enhancing visual quality in forest management. |
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| ISSN: | 1930-2126 |