CONTRIBUTION TO IMPROVEMENT OF THE PROPAGATION

THROUGH SEEDS IN PAULOWNIA TOMENTOSA STEUD.

(ROYAL PAULOWNIA) TREE SPECIES

Florea Octavian Simion

KEY WORDS: paulownia, propagation, seeds

IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES

                Lately the Paulownia tomentosa plantations have known a great spreading both in China, the country of provenience, and also other countries from Asia and even other continents. This is due both to the valuable wooden mass with numerous uses as well as to the therapeutic action of some chemical components of this tree.

                The Paulownia tomentosa wood, known and used starting form the antiquity is yellow- whitish towards fading red, granulated, right, shining after processing, light, smell-less. In order to keep its initial qualities long time after processing it is recommended to be cut during autumn or winter in the repose time. It is a type of wood easily to process and the products made of it do not break, do not crack and do not deform. The permeability to water is slower than to other wooden species. As far as the resistance to rotting is concerned on behalf of the observations from ancient writings are concerned, it has been stated to be very big- at the Chinese the coffins made of this wood rotted harder.

                This wood has good acoustical features, so that the traditional musical Chinese instruments are made only of Paulownia wood, because of the better sound resonance.

                Having a small density, it is not resistant, not being recommended for elements which cannot hold great tensions like in constructions. It is used for the construction of doors, windows, separating walls, for the beams of the roof since they maintain its shape by not curbing. It is also used for the furniture fabrication.

                Lately it is more and more used in the construction of airplanes, ships, cars because it is resistant to rotting, light. It is used to the fabrication of toys, in obtaining the plating and the paper.

                The population of China, Japan and the countries from the South- East of Asia has a long tradition in the confection of vases, Buddha, wooden fish, fabrication of paint, matches.