2007-03-02 02:49:53 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
Agar-wood or eagle-wood is the most expensive wood in the world. It is valued in many cultures for its distinctive fragrance, and used extensively in incense and perfumes. Agar-wood is the occasional product of two to four genera in the family Thymelaeaceae, with Aquilaria agallocha , Aquilaria crassna and Aquilaria malaccensis the best known species.
The wood is formed as a result of the tree's immune response to fungal infection.
Formation of agar-wood occurs in the trunk and roots of trees that have been infected by a fungus.
As a response, the tree produces a resin high in volatile organic compounds that aids in suppressing or retarding fungal growth. While the unaffected wood of the tree is relatively light in colour, the resin dramatically increases the mass and density of the affected wood, changing its colour from a pale beige to dark brown or black. In natural forest only 7 % of the trees are infected by the fungus.
A common method in artificial forestry is to inoculate all the trees with the fungus.
The above excerpt will explain why it is expensive and not usful for furniture making.
2007-03-06 01:42:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The most expensive wood in the world isAgarwood or we can say Eaglewood
It is valued in many cultures for its distinctive fragrance, and used extensively in incense and perfumes. Agarwood is the occasional product of two to four genera in the family Thymelaeaceae, with Aquilaria agallocha , Aquilaria crassna and Aquilaria malaccensis the best known species. The wood is formed as a result of the tree's immune response to fungal infection.
2007-03-02 10:58:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is Agarwood according to the listed source.
Please note the following message at that link:
"Some information in this article or section has not been verified and may not be reliable.
Please check for inaccuracies, and modify and cite sources as needed."
Second source: $30,000 per kilogram (about 2,200 pounds) so doing the math, divide by 2,000...about $13.63 per pound? Calculator right? Also that Agarwood is used MAINLY FOR THE OIL, not so much for the actual wood. I mean in terms of building materials to be built out of Agarwood.
2007-03-05 03:29:18 · answer #3 · answered by Professor Armitage 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wood on which the Mona Lisa is painted.
2007-03-02 13:58:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Birds' eye maple" is quite expensive, as it is as a result of a rare genetic mutation in the tree.
Looks kinda neat too.
2007-03-02 17:34:08 · answer #5 · answered by occluderx 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybee something from the rain forest or it just depends how ridicoulous of an amount someone is willing to pay for something
2007-03-05 18:05:46 · answer #6 · answered by peter w 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋