American Hardwoods Focus of New Free Guide
A Guide to Sustainable American Hardwoods was recently issued by the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC).
The publication combines AHEC’s guide to species and guide to lumber grades in to a single illustrated and comprehensive 102-page publication.
The front half of the guide provides a full break down of the properties, applications, and environmental credentials of commercially available U.S. hardwood species. The back half includes a simplified explanation of the NHLA grading system, which is the national standard for the U.S. hardwood lumber industry and forms the basis for export grading.
AHEC is an international trade association for the U.S. hardwood industry, representing U.S. hardwood exporters and major U.S. hardwood product trade associations. AHEC runs a worldwide program to promote the full range of American hardwoods in more than 50 export markets.
I took a look at the beginning of this guide, which seems basically excellent, with many illustrations. It wouldn’t make sense for me to save it, though.
I have to complain about yet another misleading “common name” for one oft-used species. The scientific name of this tree is Liriodendron tulipifera. When I’ve studied botany and tree identification from science sources, I’ve learned the basic common name is “tuliptree.” ONE word. That’s because the flowers remind us of tulips. From non-science sources, I’ve heard common names of “tulip poplar” and just “poplar” which latter is extremely offensive and misleading, because there are many species in the genus Populus, properly called poplars and other common names. Now this export organization calls tuliptree “American tulipwood.” I have trouble watching some PBS shows because they keep calling it “poplar” and I want to stop the speakers to demand they tell us what kind of poplar. Enough of these misleading common names! If I ever deal with someone about wood from this species, I’ll demand they use the scientific name – or no business.