Why Maple Trees & Oak Trees Are Hardwoods
While the terms "hardwood" and "softwood" do not necessarily correlate with the actual hardness of a wood, softwood does tend to split apart more easily. Oaks and maples are taxonomically classified as hardwoods due to particular characteristics, such as cell structure and reproductive methods. Both maples and oaks are used for flooring, construction, cabinetry and furniture making. Does this Spark an idea?
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General Characteristics of Hardwood Species
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Hardwoods and softwoods are two distinct groups of trees. Both maple and oak species fall in the category of hardwoods because they have broad leaves, are deciduous -- losing their leaves in the winter -- and reproduce via flower pollination. Softwood species, on the other hand, are evergreen, have needle or scaly leaves and reproduce through cones.
Cellular Structure
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The cellular structure of hardwood trees is considerably more complicated than that of softwood species, according to the Agricultural Extension Service at the University of Tennessee. While up to 95 percent of a softwood's cells are simple longitudinal tracheids that conduct water and provide support, hardwood consists primarily of fiber cells and vessel elements, or pores. These vessel elements conduct water in hardwoods, but are completely absent in softwood species.
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Variation in Hardwood Species
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While the cellular structure of softwoods is relatively uniform across the numerous species -- thus making them difficult to differentiate from each other by wood samples alone -- the vessel elements of hardwood species can vary greatly. For example, oak trees' pores are large, plentiful and non-uniform, while birch trees' pores are evenly spaced throughout their growth rings and consistent in size and number.
Uses
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Both maples and oaks are hard, tough, heavy, durable woods used for hardwood flooring, interior finishing, cabinetry and furniture. Maple is also used to make toys and veneers. The pores of white oak are tighter than those of red oak, making it excellent for high quality cooperage -- or barrel making -- and fine furniture. Northern red oak, white oak and hard maple species are used for flooring and considered of medium hardness by measurements of the Janka Hardness Test.
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References
- The Wood Floor Covering Association: Wood Flooring Hardness Chart
- The University of Tennessee: Agricultural Extension Service: Wood Identification for Hardwood and Softwood Species Native to Tennessee
- Missouri University of Science and Technology: Wood Basics
- College of St. Benedict/St. John's University: Plants and Human Affairs: Wood and Wood Products -- A Quick Introduction
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
