Myths and legends

What is the most expensive tree in the world?

The fewer specimens of a tree species, the more valuable the wood – this is the whole secret of why some boards cost a budget, while others are worth their weight in gold. But, obviously, trees would not have become rare if humanity had not valued them as a building material. Valuable wood is special: hard, dense, durable, with an ideal pattern. Nowadays it is rarely used in construction, but interior items that can last for centuries are made from wood of the highest category.

Why are the breeds valuable?

  • High strength of wood and, consequently, durability of products made from it;
  • Noble appearance;
  • Unique pattern, original pattern of annual rings;
  • Aesthetically pleasing texture.

Experienced specialists in valuable woods are also amazed by the fact that due to the increased density of the layers, any type of cut will look advantageous. Naturally, the value of the breed affects its price. Firstly, it is not so easy to find a tree that has already become rare, and secondly, it is even more difficult to deliver it and process it in such a way as to use all the wood, and not scatter the remains.

Interestingly, in each country and even in each region, different tree species may be considered valuable. In Africa it will be birch, and in Russia, for example, eucalyptus. By the way, in our country, thanks to its vast territory and diversity of flora, there are more expensive varieties of trees than anywhere else on the planet. In Russia, valuable wood grows in Siberia, Karelia, the Caucasus, and this is not a complete list.

Valuable tree species are an excellent material for a wide variety of design items, furniture elements, parquet, doors and countertops. It is believed that valuable wood at home is a source of positive energy and a luxurious interior decoration. The costs of such material are offset by its unique appearance and very long service life. True, expensive wood is also very capricious; it will have to be looked after regularly. Moreover, each type of wood has its own distinctive qualities and requires special attention. Let’s talk about some types of trees below.

Abashi

A tropical wood variety that comes to us from the forests of West Africa. Cream shade, soft structure, low thermal conductivity, but high moisture resistance and almost complete absence of knots – all this has made the material from deciduous wood under the exotic name “Triplochiton hard-resin” very desirable and in demand all over the world. The almost perfectly smooth surface of its wood is due to the fact that in abashi the crown is located only at the very top; almost the entire tree trunk is smooth. This material is well suited for processing, tinting, screwing in fasteners, and gluing with other parts. The workpieces do not break or crack while working with them. Very often, abashi is used in the construction of steam rooms in baths, in aircraft and shipbuilding, as well as for the production of furniture and musical instruments.

Juniper

It is also a faith that was sung in medieval literature. This light coniferous species is distinguished by its high wear resistance, durability, pleasant smell and pinkish-white tint of wood. It is aesthetic appeal that is considered one of the main advantages of juniper. Due to the fact that the tree itself is small, it is difficult to use in industry. However, in turning, making children’s toys, dishes, barrels, in medicine and perfumery, juniper is highly valued.

Siberian cedar

Siberian cedar pine is a light wood with a density of 420 kg per cubic meter. It can be recognized by its unusual pattern: the yellow-pink core smoothly connects with light yellow fibers. They can be found not only in Siberia, but also in Mongolia and northern China, but this does not make the breed less valuable: cedar pine can live up to eight centuries, and there are not many such old-timers left in the world.

One of the key qualities of a thoroughbred Siberian is amazing durability. Cedar products can be passed down from generation to generation. The material lends itself well to processing and painting, is not afraid of pests and has a very pleasant, even healing, smell. The use of Siberian cedar is more than widespread: it is actively used for exterior and interior decoration, in construction, as well as in the manufacture of veneer, pencils, ladles, bath thermometers, clocks and dousing devices.

Canadian cedar

Red cedar grows not only in Canada, but also in the USA, but the name “Canadian” is already firmly attached to it. Its wood is very soft and docile, it will not crack during drilling and can be processed well, without leaving a single knot. This breed is valued for the following advantages: low fiber compression coefficient, as a result, the ability to keep its shape despite changes in temperature and humidity, high soundproofing qualities, and good thermal insulation. That’s why Canadian cedar is so popular for finishing walls, floors and ceilings – both the material and the residents of a house decorated with it feel great in living spaces. Without a doubt, Canadian cedar is an ideal material for the home: reliable, durable, beautiful, and resistant. It was not without reason that it was appreciated in ancient times: some archaeological finds are made of red cedar.

Oak

The hardest, most reliable, wear-resistant and dense – 760 kg per cubic meter. There are legends about the durability of products made from this breed. Even in Latin the name of oak is translated as “beautiful tree.” Its porous structure looks very noble, but at the same time it can resist rotting and parasites. Over time, oak wood darkens, which looks even more aesthetically pleasing. Considering all the advantages, one should not be surprised that this breed is very capricious: oak furniture requires special attention and care, it will not agree to just stand and become covered in dust at home. The happy owner of oak products must treat their surface with special means at least once a month, for which the oak will be ready to serve the owner for decades.

Oak was in demand several centuries ago. In the Peter the Great era, for example, poaching the felling of this tree was punishable by death. Times have changed, but oak has become even more widely used: in interior decoration, building construction, furniture, doors, underwater structures and flooring. Garden furniture made from this wood and oak bathhouses are especially popular now. And, of course, such interior elements as an oak dining table, chairs and a secretary remain timeless classics.

Wenge

Another valuable rock, this time tropical, even denser, heavier and harder. The wood obtained from the Wenge tree is also excellent at resisting small pests and fungi. The most valuable thing in the tree is the dark core – the densest part of wenge. The rest of the wood is known for its noble shades – from golden brown to almost black. But working with this material is not easy: the minerals and oils contained in the pores of the wenge trunk make work difficult, so experts recommend limiting yourself to waxing.

When drying, such wood may become cracked. But wenge perfectly withstands even strong blows. That is why the material made from it is used for the most difficult tasks in the house: the design of stairs, furniture, sports equipment. Wenge is often used for the production of flooring, as this material combines well with other species, such as ash, maple and olive. From such “duets” they assemble artistic parquet of the highest quality – very expensive, beautiful and reliable.

Cherry

This breed is not grown specifically for industrial woodworking, so everything made from it is considered unique. Cherry wood is almost white, with brown spots, which become more and more numerous over the years, so that ripe cherry is already dark brown in color. The material from this rock is not very durable, but it can be processed well. Therefore, cherry is used not for the production of heavy furniture, but for the production of small exclusive interior items.

Walnut

This wood is now also considered valuable, and therefore it is very expensive. Durable, heavy walnut material stands out for its aesthetically attractive pattern and non-standard color – from gray to brown. This breed is widely used in the production of furniture, flooring and interior items. Walnut is very reliable: it does not crack due to age and is not damaged by small impacts.

Maple

Dense, hard and very elastic wood is still mined on an industrial scale. Maple is actively used in furniture production, for the manufacture of parquet, facing material and musical instruments. This material attracts with its unusual color and unique pattern. It is so well processed that craftsmen prefer to make carved products from maple, which turn out to be very exquisite. For example, chess pieces and wooden figurines.

Pear

Oddly enough, the wood of this fruit species is heavy and durable, with high viscosity. She doesn’t like any kind of processing, but an experienced craftsman makes the surface of the material not smooth, but velvety. The material is resistant to moisture, does not deform over time and does not crack from exposure. It makes excellent boards, parquet, cladding material and furniture. In addition, the pear allows you to cut complex relief images on its surface.

Mahogany

One of the most valuable wood species. The red material of various shades is distinguished by its unusual pattern – from rays and wavy stripes. Expensive furniture, percussion musical instruments, and finishing materials are made from mahogany. Recently, they have become very popular in decorating ship cabins. The breed is distinguished by its noble appearance and obedience: mahogany is easy to saw, process, polish and grind. It is believed that musical instruments made from mahogany sound clear and deep.

These are not all tree species recognized as valuable. The list is actually very extensive: sequoia, yew, sandalwood, rosewood – these trees grow on different continents and are used for different purposes. But they have one thing in common: the popularity of unusual wood makes them increasingly rare.

Wood has always been considered valuable, and in the case of special properties and rarity, a very expensive material, but the cost of certain types reaches such high values ​​that not everyone can afford to buy them.
We offer a selection of the most beautiful, rarely found, with unique features and therefore truly expensive tree species.

Umnini – “pink bone”

Umnini grows in Africa. It received its second name, “pink ivory,” due to similar qualities and similar compactness, which in properties really bring it closer to ivory than to ordinary types of wood. It grows in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and southern Africa. In ancient times, products made from umnini were worn exclusively by tribal leaders, while other tribesmen faced the death penalty for attempting to destroy a symbol of power. Today, valuable wood is used to make expensive things: cues for playing billiards, knife handles, musical instruments.

Cost: between 7-8 thousand dollars per board foot

Bocote – “Mayan rose tree”

Bokote is the leader among expensive tree species. It grows only on the coast of the Caribbean Sea and its many islands, but is extremely rare everywhere. Contrary to the name, the shades range from greenish-yellow to golden brown, the wood is valued for its rare combination of pronounced dark, brown-black veins against a background of unusually light wood with a slight oily sheen.

Cost: around $33K per board foot

Amaranth – “purple heart”

After cutting, amaranth wood turns purple or violet, highly valued by the aristocracy since the days of the ancient Egyptian state. Thanks to its unusual and noble coloring, it is used for inlay and exclusively elite items are made from it. The tree is very durable, for this reason they work with it mainly with special ultra-sharp tools.

Cost: around $12K per board foot

Sandalwood – royal luxury

Sandalwood has become popular because of the special aroma emanating from the wood, which preserves it for a long time. It is used to make aromatic oils that are used by perfumers and cosmetics manufacturers. For reasons of useful properties and active cutting down, sandalwood was included in the list of endangered species, but it was always rare, therefore for thousands of years it was very expensive and was equally highly valued both at the court of King Solomon and at the court of the Chinese emperors.

Cost: within 20 thousand dollars per kg

Grenadil – singing ebony

Grenadil wood has remarkable acoustic qualities, which is essential for creating elite musical instruments, most often wind instruments. Due to long-term growth (more than sixty years) and illegal logging, the tree was among the endangered. But the higher the value of products made from it.

Cost: within 10 thousand dollars per kg

Ebony – blacker than black

It comes in many varieties, varying in shade and pattern, but is generally black or black with streaks, sometimes chocolate, or slightly lilac/violet; there are also light varieties, but these are the rarest. It has fairly compacted and moisture-resistant wood. Very heavy, sinks easily in water. Its most valuable value is in the core, which has a very dense black color in which annual rings are not visible, constituting about 30% of the total mass of the tree. Perfectly amenable to polishing to a state indistinguishable from stone. They make luxury furniture, as well as stringed musical instruments. And in African mythology, ebony weapons are capable of driving away spirits and killing demons.

Cost: within 10 thousand dollars per kg

Backout – “tree of life” and “iron tree” at the same time

Backout is called the “tree of life.” It owes its value to properties that are highly valued in medicine. Backout wood is the heaviest and strongest – truly the best. Thanks to these qualities, things are made from it in which both of these properties are valuable. In the past, for example, batons of British police officers.) They strengthened the sides of ships and even made parts for watches, bearings and bushings for machine tools, turbines and engines, and even in the propeller shafts of submarines, guides from it worked for 20 years without replacement – the phenomenal oil content of the backout creates a natural lubrication , does not rot, does not rust, is durable and strong, dielectric and does not require additional lubricants. It is also used to build St. George’s Cathedral in Georgetown.

Cost: around $5K per board foot

Bubinga

A rosewood native to Africa that has a beautifully varied texture with intricate patterns resulting from complex variations in the formation of growth rings. The wood is used in making harps and some other muses. tools, expensive bows, knife handles, glasses frames. Wood is also actively used for interior decoration of Lexus and BMW cars and large pieces of luxury furniture.

Cost: around $19K per board foot

if

To obtain expensive and high-quality agar wood, long aging is important, since simply cut wood has no value. The tree is first attacked by parasites, after which it is allowed to decompose in abundantly humid climatic conditions, and only then can it be used, mainly in medicine and as incense.

Cost: within 10 thousand dollars per kg

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