2006-10-07 00:39:46 · 9 answers · asked by brendanconnal 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
To some extent, but I don't think it is an absolute measure. Check out the site at the link, it compares hardness of flooring timbers. Plenty of examples there: hardest is Brazilian Walnut. Many of the high scorers have dark wood (but note that the wood of the Ebony, which is black, is not the hardest of all).
Much of the hardness of wood is due to the fiber content ... color is due to deposition of secondary products (like resins) but these compounds can contribute to hardness. Conifer wood is made up of tracheids, kind of a cross between a fiber and a xylem vessel, and these are structurally weaker, hence the name "softwood" applied to them (in contrast to "hardwood" -- the timber of flowering trees).
2006-10-07 20:36:28 · answer #1 · answered by myrtguy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Within a particular species, yes; compare the dark red heartwood of old-growth redwood to paler second-growth, which grew faster because it had more light. Dark rings are cells packed closer together, which is stronger. But hard maple and soft maple are about the same color--guess which is stronger? And red alder is darker than both, but not very strong wood since it's so fast-growing.
2006-10-07 12:02:04 · answer #2 · answered by candy2mercy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not really....not always....some of the strongest wood available in this part of the world is red, while some others are light brown but they are very strong. We know that Mahogany and rosewood are very strong timber, and both have a very dark veneer. But some varieties of teak, which are almost as strong, are light brown(almost looking like willow)...thus the strength of the wood is not always predictable by the color.
2006-10-07 05:49:10 · answer #3 · answered by Rabindra 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it does, Oak for eg. has a tight grouping of cells that are strong & hard. Elm's cells are long & fiberous & is a great bendy wood.
2006-10-07 00:44:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes i think it does.
pine, 4 example, is a very light wood and isn't that strong.
oak/cherry is harder and stronger.
2006-10-07 00:42:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The darker the wood the harder it is
2006-10-07 07:42:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sweety your question are too complicated for me this morning.
2006-10-07 00:48:39 · answer #7 · answered by Brooklynn 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I wouldn't think so.
2006-10-07 00:41:53 · answer #8 · answered by god0fgod 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no
2006-10-07 00:46:44 · answer #9 · answered by FLOYD 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋