台灣原生種 Taiwan Native Plants
闊葉樹 The Broad-leaved Tree; Hardwood
大多為落葉喬木，相對於針葉樹，其葉片多為扁平寬大形態，變化極大，因多數闊葉樹的材質比重（密度）較高，故又稱為硬木，主要生長在熱帶及亞熱帶地區。從細胞組成來看，闊葉樹於橫切面可觀察到較大孔隙，稱之為「導管」。
其依照配置排列來看，又可分為環孔材、散孔材及半環孔材三種，此為辨別闊葉樹材之重要特徵，同多數闊葉樹材年輪不明顯可與針葉樹材區分，而闊葉樹材的薄膜細胞排列形態特徵則是作為不同樹種區分的重要依據。
闊葉樹種類繁多，材質比重高低分布亦是分歧，而可以廣為利用在各種不同用途。常見比重中等的可作為高級家具用材，如蘇木科、蝶形花科及含羞草科闊葉材，比重高的可作為工具材料或戶外用材，如殼斗科闊葉樹，比重低的可作為合板材料，如龍腦香科闊葉樹。
Most of the deciduous trees are broad-leaved. Compared with the leaves of coniferous trees, the broad-leaves are mostly flat and wide. They are known as hardwoods due to the high density of the wood. Broad-leaved trees mainly grow in tropical and subtropical areas. There are “vessels” in broad-leaved trees, which can be observed in their cross section as porous cell composition.
Broad-leaved wood can be divided into three types according to the arrangement of the pores: ring-porous, diffuse-porous and semi-ring-porous wood. This is an important feature for identifying broad-leaved trees. The growth rings of most broad-leaved trees are not obvious, a feature which can be used to tell them apart from coniferous trees. The morphological characteristics of the arrangements of parenchyma cells are important when distinguishing among different broad-leaved trees.
There are many types of broad-leaved trees, they are widely used for various purposes and all of them can be differentiated by their density. Broad-leaved wood with medium density, such as the wood of the Caesalpiniaceae, Fabaceae and Mimosaceae families, can be used in high-end furniture production. High density broad-leaved trees, such as the Fagaceae family, can be used for tools or outdoor materials. Broad-leaved trees of low density, such as the Dipterocarpaceae family, can be used for plywood materials.
闊葉五木 Five Broad-Leaved Trees of Taiwan
台灣櫸木
木材刨光後有油臘感，如同塗過雞油般，故又稱為「雞油」。其木材紋理優雅，安定性高，耐衝擊摩擦，常用於地板、樓梯扶手、雕刻及家具等用材。
Taiwan zelkova / Zelkova serrata（Thunb.）Makino
After planing, the wood gets oily and waxy to the touch as if it has been coated with chicken fat, hence the name “chicken fat”. The wood has an elegant texture, high stability, and resistance to impact and friction. It is often used for flooring, stair handrails, sculptures, furniture, etc.
烏心石
材質優良，屬闊葉一級木。常用於建築用材（柱、樑、門窗、地板、壁板）、家具、農具。
Formosan Michelia / Magnolia compressa Maxim.
Excellent material, first-grade broad-leaved wood. Commonly used in construction elements such as columns, beams, doors, windows, floors, siding, or in furniture and agricultural tools.
牛樟
具防蟲效果，可蒸餾出樟腦及樟腦油，樟腦曾是台灣早期開發的功臣。木材可使用於建築、雕刻、常見綠美化之主木，亦為鳥類食餌植物之一。
Stout camphor tree / Cinnamomum kanehirae Hayata
It has anti-insect effect and can be used to distill camphor and camphor oil. Camphor was important to the early development of Taiwan. The wood can be used in construction, for wood carving, and is popular in landscaping. It is also one of the bird feeding plants.
樟樹
木材具有芳香，邊材淡黃褐色。富含松油醇，不易腐朽、蟲蛀，材質細緻、紋理交錯，且刨削加工容易，為高價值家具及木刻藝品用材。枝葉可提煉牛樟精油。
Camphor tree / Cinnamomum camphora
The wood is fragrant and its sapwood is light yellowish brown. It is rich in terpineol, so it is resistant to decay and insects. It has a fine consistency and interlaced texture and is easily planed and processed. It is a good material for high-end furniture and wood carving. Cinnamomum camphora essential oil can be extracted from the branches and leaves.
台灣檫樹
樹幹通直，樹皮深縱裂，略交錯。金黃色的花開於早春。木材常做為家具和箱板的材料及合板的面材用料。葉為寬尾鳳蝶幼蟲的食草。
Taiwan sassafras / Sassafras randaiense
The trunk is straight and the bark has deep, slightly crossed, longitudinally splits. Its golden flowers bloom in early spring. The wood is often used as a material for furniture and box boards and as a surface material for plywood. The larvae of Papilio maraho feeds on its leaves.
