I thought some of you might be a little bit interested to learn more about the balsa tree considering how dependent we are on it for our wonderful hobby. I'm a forester by trade so I have a natural affinity for trees. Hopefully you guys find this a little bit interesting

In forestry we often refer to a tree by it's scientific name rather than common name. This is mostly because the same tree can have different common names depending on the region you are in. For example a Red Maple is Acer rubra. The scientific name for the balsa tree is Ochroma lagopus.

Here is a picture of it:




The balsa tree grows primarily in South and Central America and is a relatively fast growing tree. The wood that we use typically comes from a tree that is between 5-10 years old, however the tree itself can live for hundreds of years. As the tree matures, the core of the tree can rot, therefore the tree is typically harvested while young to maximize board foot production.

Balsa is actually somewhat difficult to propogate.The seeds cannot be stored and pregermination treatments are required to ensure germination rates greater than 10 percent. The fibers must be removed by hand or by burning.The seeds are then placed in boiling water and the heat source is removed. After soaking in the water for 15 minutes, the seeds must be planted immediately.

Balsa has been used for variety of tasks, including providing insulation for US spaceships, construction of the famous de Havilland Mosquito and is used in the floopan wedged in between two carbon fiber sheets in the corvette Z06.

Anyhow, thought you guys might enjoy learning a bit more about the balsa tree.

Enjoy!