Properties of Mexican bloodwood ( Haematoxylum campechianum L.). Part 1: anatomical and colourimetric characteristics

Abstract Bloodwood ( Haematoxylum campechianum L.) native to Central America has been known as dye source since the prehistoric times by the Maya. Nowadays, bloodwood is increasingly used for plantations but its use for furniture, flooring, or fencing is only of regional importance. The reason is seen in lacking knowledge of its properties. To expand that knowledge, this Part 1 of the two-part study series investigated the anatomy and the discolouration due to leaching of heartwood of H. campechianum . Anatomical characteristics were described qualitatively and quantitively using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray micro-computed tomography. Detailed wood anatomical data are presented, together with numerical analyses of cell parameters. Apart from wood anatomy, colourimetric analyses were obtained after 10 leaching cycles. The colour change of the wood due to water exposure was determined measuring in CIE L a b colour system. In addition, the extinction of the leachate was determined spectrophotometrically after each leaching cycle. The resulting colour change was evaluated according to colour change after each cycle. The most prominent change in colour was observed for the first cycle due to leaching. Because of the extensive leaching of extractives, further investigation might address the effect of leaching of water-soluble extractives on adhesion properties of bloodwood.