Anatomical structure and properties of Neolamarckia cadamba (Kelempayan)

Neolamarckia cadamba (Kelempayan) and Parkia speciosa (Petai) is the Light Hardwood species that easily found in Malaysia. The knowledge on anatomical properties has not been established to comprehensive extent. The objective is to identify anatomical structure and to compare between three portions of anatomical wood structure and density of Neolamarckia cadamba and Parkia speciosa. Kelempayan and Petal wood which is between 3 to 5 years old was collected from area in Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Jell campus. The method that has been used is microscopic method and statistical analysis. From the result obtained in fiber dimension and wood density, Parkia speciosa show the higher value in anatomical properties. In fibre length, the highest value is in top portion of Parkia speciosa which 14.880±1.289µm while in Neolamarckia cadamba, the middle portion, 12.150±0.581 µm. The fibre diameter shows that top portion of Parkia speciosa is in highest value which 0.506±0.1171 µm and in Neolamarckia cadamba, the highest in middle portion which 0.351±0.008 µm. For the fibre lumen diameter, the highest is in middle portion of Parkia speciosa which 0.130±0.016 µm while in Neolamarckia cadamba, the top portion give the highest value which 0.168±0.016 µm. There is significant different show in fibre length and fibre lumen diameter in ANOVA test. In fibre length, the significant different within species and portion which is (P=0.001) while in fibre lumen diameter the significant is (P=0.039) in species intercept portion. The wood density show the highest value in bottom portion of Neolamarckia cadamba and top portion of Parkia speciosa which 0.638g/cm³ and 0.734g/cm³ respectively. There is a significant between species and portion in Neolamarckia cadamba and Parkia speciosa at significant level P<0.05 in ANOVA test which is in species and species intercept portion (P-0.011) and (P=0.003) respectively. For the cell proportion, Neolamarckia cadamba show the most of visible cell present at each portion compare to Parkia speciosa which is vessel, fibre, ray parenchyma and axial parenchyma. Wood anatomy must have a future as it has a fundamental role in developing and applying the technology of wood. It is very important to understand and assess wood quality characteristics to determine its most valuable end use.