許美琪教授長期觀察和研究家具業(yè)，對(duì)美國硬木也有深度了解，近日更親自編譯整理了美國硬木出口10大主要樹種介紹，為行業(yè)提供寶貴參考資料。為求準(zhǔn)確嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)，特別附上了英文原文，也更方便專業(yè)名詞的對(duì)照查找?，F(xiàn)介紹給今日家具的讀者們，希望有所幫助，同時(shí)感謝許美琪教授的辛勤付出！

Hickory lumber derives from seven commercially important species in two species groups, the True Hickories and the Pecan Hickories.  Wood properties are very similar between the two groups and the lumber is generally marketed together as “Hickory” or “Pecan/Hickory.”  The largest concentrations of Hickory timber are in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, though it grows across the Eastern hardwood range.  Hickory accounts for roughly 5% of U.S. hardwood sawtimber in the Eastern United States and 3% of U.S. hardwood lumber production.

Hickory is the heaviest of American hardwoods, yet it can be sanded to a nice finish and is above-average in most other working properties.  Hickory has historically been a leading wood in tool handles due to its exceptional strength and shock resistance.  Hickory sapwood is white and frequently tinged with brown streaks.  Hickory’s natural color variations have made it a favorite of consumers looking for a rustic look in flooring, furniture and cabinets.  Since Hickory is very prone to stain, production tends to decline during warm weather.

山核桃木鋸材產(chǎn)自2個(gè)樹種群即真山核桃和美洲山核桃的7個(gè)商用重要樹種。這2個(gè)樹種群的木材性質(zhì)十分相似，在市場上，它們的鋸材一般也統(tǒng)稱之為“山核桃”或“美洲山核桃/山核桃”。山核桃木材最集中的產(chǎn)地是伊利諾斯州、印第安納州、俄亥俄州、肯塔基州和田納西州，不過它們橫跨東部硬木產(chǎn)區(qū)生長。山核桃木約占美國東部各州各硬木鋸材的5%和美國硬木鋸材產(chǎn)量的3%。

山核桃木是最重的美國硬木，但是它仍能被砂光成漂亮的表面，它的工作性能高于許多其它樹種木材工作性能的平均值。由于山核桃木具有特別高的強(qiáng)度和耐震性，它歷來是工具柄的主要用材。山核桃木的邊材呈白色，常常帶有棕色的條紋。山核桃木天然的色差使其受到消費(fèi)者的青睞，它能使地板、家具和廚柜擁有粗獷的外觀。因?yàn)樯胶颂夷緲O易色變，在天氣較暖的季節(jié)，產(chǎn)量趨于下降。

Lumber from Red Maple, Silver Maple, and Bigleaf Maple are all sold as “Soft Maple.”  Soft Maple is 50% more abundant than Hard Maple and grows across a greater range, extending south to the Gulf Coast states.  Soft Maple was traditionally a less-expensive substitute for Hard Maple and Cherry in furniture, cabinets, moulding and musical instruments.  Over the last decade, however, Soft Maple has developed significant demand of its own.  Soft Maple is less prone to supply shortages and price swings than Hard Maple.  In addition, steady growth in consumer demand for painted and darkly stained finishes in cabinets and furniture has eliminated much of the color advantage Hard Maple once held over Soft Maple.

從紅楓木、銀楓木和大葉楓木所得到的鋸材在銷售時(shí)統(tǒng)稱為“軟楓木”。軟楓木的貯量比上硬楓木多出50%，生長的地區(qū)范圍也較廣，向南延伸至海灣各州。在家具、廚柜建筑木線條和樂器的制作中，軟楓木歷來用來做硬楓木和櫻桃木的廉價(jià)代用品。但是過去20年里，軟楓木本身已經(jīng)擁有了很大的需求。軟楓木比硬楓木更不容易發(fā)生供應(yīng)不足和價(jià)格波動(dòng)。此外，消費(fèi)者對(duì)油漆和著深色涂飾的家具和廚柜的需求穩(wěn)步上升也抵消了硬楓木一度長于軟楓木色澤的優(yōu)勢。

American Black Walnut grows throughout the eastern United States, but is most highly concentrated in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.  It is one of only a few North American hardwood species occasionally grown in plantations due to its high value.  Despite its wide growing region, Walnut composes less than 1% of the growing stock in the Eastern U.S.  Walnut lumber is highly prized for its rich, dark color.  It is heavy, hard, and decay resistant, yet easily worked.  It is often steamed before drying to minimize the stark contrast between the dark-colored heartwood and the light-colored sapwood.  Walnut is used for furniture, cabinets, interior paneling, flooring and specialty items like gun stocks and plaques.

美洲黑胡桃木生長遍及美國東部，但是大多數(shù)密集生長在愛荷華州、密蘇里州、伊利諾斯州、印第安納州和俄亥俄州。它是因其高價(jià)值偶爾用人工種植的少數(shù)北美硬木樹種之一。盡管胡桃木的生長地區(qū)廣泛，它占美國東部鋸材的立木蓄積量還不足1%。胡桃木鋸材因其色澤豐厚深沉而頗受青睞。胡桃木重、硬、耐磨，但仍易被加工。在干燥前常先汽蒸，以減少深色心材與淡色邊材之間的明顯色差。胡桃木用來制作家具、廚柜、室內(nèi)鑲板和地板，并專門用來制作如槍柄和飾板等貨品。

White Oak comprises 17% of hardwood sawtimber in the Eastern United States.  The wood is dense, heavy, hard and relatively water-resistant, lending to its traditional uses for residential and truck trailer flooring, and whiskey and wine barrels.  It is also a favored species for furniture, doors, mouldings and paneling.  White Oak’s figure is generally less pronounced than Red Oak, and its color is generally lighter.

白橡木占到美國東部硬木鋸材的17%。這種木材密實(shí)、重、硬和相對(duì)防水，使其歷來用于住宅地板和卡車拖車廂底板、威士忌酒和紅酒的酒桶。它也是用于制作家具、木門、建筑木線條和鑲板的上好材料。白橡木的花紋一般不如紅橡木那么明顯，顏色一般也較淡。

Six species of Ash are harvested for lumber across the eastern half of the U.S. and into Canada.  Historically, Ash has accounted for 5% of hardwood growing stock on timberlands in the Eastern U.S., but less than 3% of U.S. hardwood lumber production.  Ash is an open-grained species like Red Oak and White Oak, but generally has a less-pronounced grain pattern than the Oaks.  Ash is often sorted for color and sold as “white Ash” or “brown Ash.”  It is a strong, hard and heavy wood, and has traditionally been used for furniture, flooring, millwork, tool handles and baseball bats.  In recent years, Ash has been increasingly used in the manufacture of thermally modified wood for exterior applications, particularly in Europe.

Ash lumber markets have been severely disrupted over the last four years by the Emerald Ash Borer, an introduced pest from Asia that has killed millions of Ash trees throughout the Eastern U.S. and Canada.  As the infestation spread, timberland owners began aggressively cutting their Ash timber to salvage as much value as possible.  At the same time, European agencies enacted protective measures to prevent Ash lumber imports from carrying the insect into European forests.  The excess production and restricted exports caused Ash prices to collapse beginning in June of 2015.  Ash prices recovered in 2018, but have since cooled again.  Still, compared to the 2016 lows, current Ash prices are $120/MBF higher for KD 4/4 FAS/1F, $190 higher for #1 Common and $160 higher for #2 Common.

在美國東半部至加拿大，有6個(gè)白蠟?zāi)緲浞N木材用于制作鋸材。歷來，白蠟?zāi)菊济绹鴸|部林地的硬木立木蓄積量的5%，但是占美國硬木鋸材產(chǎn)量卻不到3%。與紅橡木和白橡木一樣，白蠟?zāi)臼谴质杓y理的樹種木材，但是一般不如橡木的紋理明顯。白蠟?zāi)境Ｒ灶伾诸?，在銷售時(shí)稱之為“白色白蠟?zāi)尽被颉昂稚紫災(zāi)尽?。它是一種強(qiáng)度高、硬和重的木材，歷來用于制作家具、地板、建筑木線材、工具柄和棒球球棒。近年來，白蠟?zāi)驹絹碓蕉嗟赜米鳠岣男圆?，用于室外場合，特別是在歐洲。

在過去的4年里，白蠟?zāi)句彶氖袌錾钍茏婺妇G鉆蟲害的困擾，它是源自于亞洲的一種蟲害，在整個(gè)美國東部和加拿大造成了成百萬棵的白蠟?zāi)緲渌劳觯捎谙x害的蔓延，林地業(yè)主開始急于砍伐他們的白蠟?zāi)緲?，以盡可能地挽回他們的價(jià)值。同時(shí)，歐洲機(jī)構(gòu)也采取保護(hù)措施來阻止白蠟?zāi)句彶牡倪M(jìn)口，以避免把蟲害引進(jìn)歐洲的森林。過量的生產(chǎn)和出口受限使白蠟?zāi)镜膬r(jià)格在2015年6月開始崩盤。2018年，白蠟?zāi)镜膬r(jià)格復(fù)蘇，但此后又下跌了。不過，相比2016年的低位，窯干4/4 英寸厚FAS單面白蠟?zāi)镜默F(xiàn)價(jià)每千板英尺已上漲了120美元、普1級(jí)的現(xiàn)價(jià)每千板英尺已上漲了190美元、普2級(jí)的現(xiàn)價(jià)每千板英尺已上漲了160美元。

Western Red Alder is the most commercially significant hardwood species in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Canadian West.  Most Alder forests are located west of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges, from southern Alaska to southern California, with the heaviest concentrations in northern Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.  Alder comprises nearly 17% of hardwood growing stock on timberland in the Western U.S. but less than 2% of total U.S. hardwood growing stock.  Unlike most eastern hardwood species in North America, Alder production is concentrated among a relatively small number of companies, several of which have developed proprietary grades that are hybrids of standard NHLA grades.

The heartwood and sapwood of Alder are virtually indistinguishable and range in color from light tan to reddish-brown.  As a relatively soft hardwood, Alder is easy to turn, sand and finish.  Alder’s straight, tight grain makes it a popular substitute for Cherry and Maple, particularly in darkly stained or painted applications, though it is no longer just a substitute wood.  Alder is widely used in kitchen cabinets, especially in the western U.S.  Sizeable volumes of Alder also go into furniture, doors and interior moulding.  “Rustic” grades of Alder are especially popular for mountain cabins and resorts.

西部紅赤樺是美國太平洋西北沿岸和加拿大西部最具商業(yè)價(jià)值的硬木樹種。大多數(shù)赤樺木森林位于內(nèi)華達(dá)和卡斯達(dá)山脈沿南阿拉斯加到南加利福尼亞一線，赤樺木森林最多集中在俄勒岡州的北部、華盛頓州和（加拿大）不列顛哥倫比亞。赤樺木約占美國西部林地立木蓄積量的17%，但是不到美國全部硬木立木蓄積量的2%。與北美大多數(shù)東部硬木樹種不同，赤樺木的生產(chǎn)集中在相對(duì)少數(shù)的企業(yè)中，其中的幾個(gè)公司已建立了業(yè)主等級(jí)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，它們是與全美硬木板材協(xié)會(huì)（NHLA）等級(jí)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)混同的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。

赤樺木的心材和邊材實(shí)際上是難以區(qū)分的，它的顏色從淡黃褐色至淡紅褐色變化。作為一種相對(duì)質(zhì)軟的硬木，赤樺木易被車削、砂光和涂飾。赤樺木紋理通直、緊密，這使它被普遍用來作為櫻桃木和楓木的替代用材，特別是在深色著色和油漆的應(yīng)用場合，不過它不再只是一種替代用材了。赤樺木廣泛用于制作廚柜，特別是在美國西部地區(qū)。赤樺木有相當(dāng)數(shù)量用于制作家具、木門和室內(nèi)建筑木線條。在建造山區(qū)的木屋和度假村中，“鄉(xiāng)村級(jí)”的赤樺木特別用得普遍。

Poplar, or Tulipwood, is among the most abundant U.S. hardwood species.  It grows throughout the Appalachian and Southern regions, with the heaviest concentrations along the Appalachian Mountain range from northern Georgia through southeastern Pennsylvania.  It is a fast-growing, sun-loving species that regenerates naturally and accounts for almost 10% of the standing hardwood sawtimber volume in the eastern U.S.  Poplar lumber typically has a yellow or greenish color, and is often used in applications where the wood will be darkly stained or painted.  Since Poplar trees tend to grow tall and straight, Poplar lumber is more readily available in longer lengths than many other species. Its light weight, workability, and low cost compared to other tight-grained woods make it a favorite for moulding, millwork, furniture and window blind producers. Poplar is also a common species for veneered panels, and veneer plants often compete aggressively with sawmills for Poplar logs.

鵝掌楸木或稱美國白楊木，它是美國硬木中最豐富的樹種木材。它生長在整個(gè)阿巴拉契亞地區(qū)和南部地區(qū)，其中最多集中于沿著佐治亞北部到賓夕法尼亞東南部的阿巴拉契亞山脈。它是一個(gè)速生、喜陽的樹種，天然再生，幾乎占到美國東部硬木鋸材蓄積量的10%。鵝掌楸鋸材一般呈黃色或淡綠色，常用于著深色或油漆的應(yīng)用場合。因?yàn)轾Z掌楸樹木長得高大通直，通常更容易購到比其它樹種鋸材長度更長的鵝掌楸木鋸材。相比其它細(xì)紋理的木材，它質(zhì)量較輕、加工性好，價(jià)格較低，這使它更適于用來制作裝飾線條、建筑木線條、家具和百葉窗。鵝掌楸木也常用來制作薄木貼面鑲板，單板工廠常與鋸木廠競相采購鵝掌楸原木。

American Cherry grows throughout the eastern United States, though roughly half of all Cherry sawtimber is concentrated in the states of Pennsylvania and New York.  Significant Cherry volumes also grow in Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan and Wisconsin.  Cherry accounts for about 2% of growing stock on U.S. timberlands and about 3% of U.S. hardwood lumber production.  Historically, Cherry was one of the most prized wood species in North America for high-end furniture, cabinetry, millwork and paneling.  The rich pinkish color of Cherry heartwood darkens with age.  The widespread adoption of color sorting in the market has worked to minimize much of the color and quality variations within Cherry’s natural range, though regional price differences remain.  Cherry lumber is widely available in a variety of color specifications, such as 90/50 Red, which specifies that 90% of one face and 50% of the other will be of the desirable red heartwood.

美國櫻桃木在整個(gè)美國東部都有生長，不過全部櫻桃木鋸材中約有一半集中在賓夕法尼亞州和紐約州。俄亥俄州、西弗吉尼亞州、密歇根州和威斯康星州也生長有大量的櫻桃木。櫻桃木占美國林地的立木蓄積量約2%，占美國硬木鋸材產(chǎn)量約3%。櫻桃木歷來是制作北美高端家具、廚柜、建筑木線條和鑲板的最珍貴的樹種木材。櫻桃木心材隨樹齡加大而顯出豐滿的粉紅色。在市場上，普遍采用色澤分類以最大限度地減少因產(chǎn)地不同而出現(xiàn)的大部分的顏色和品質(zhì)的差異，不過地區(qū)性的差價(jià)仍然存在。可以采購到各種色澤規(guī)格的櫻桃木鋸材，諸如90/50紅，它指的是一面有90%是所要求的粉紅色的心材，另一面則有50%是所要求的粉紅色的心材。

Red Oak is the most abundant hardwood in all but a few Eastern states.  It is also the most traditional American hardwood, and has been favored for generations for furniture, cabinetry, flooring and architectural millwork.  Red Oak is an open-grained wood like White Oak and Ash, but often with more pronounced grain patterns.  It is hard, heavy and dense, making it suitable for applications requiring strength and dent-resistance.  It sands and finishes well, and can be easily stained.

紅橡木是資源最豐富的硬木，除了東部少數(shù)幾個(gè)州生長得較少外。它也是最傳統(tǒng)的美國硬木，許多代人一直喜歡用它來制作家具、櫥柜、地板和建筑裝飾木制品。與白橡木和白蠟?zāi)疽粯?，紅橡木是粗疏紋理的木材，但是它的花紋圖案更加明顯。它硬、重和密實(shí)，這使它更適宜用于對(duì)強(qiáng)度和耐磨有所要求的場合。它易砂光和涂飾，也能容易著色。

Hard Maple—also known as Sugar Maple or Black Maple—comprises 7% of hardwood growing stock in the eastern United States, with the majority found in Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.  Hard Maple is also a dominant hardwood species in eastern Canada.  Hard Maple is a tight-grained species with white sapwood.  It is one of the heaviest and hardest North American hardwood species, with excellent dent resistance, yet it can also be easily sanded and finished.  Most producers now color-sort Hard Maple to maximize sapwood content.

The cabinet industry has been the largest North American end-use market for Hard Maple over the last decade, as consumers favored its bright, clean appearance.  In recent years, however, as consumer preference has shifted towards painted and darkly stained cabinets, demand has increased for Brown Hard Maple, Unselected Hard Maple, and even Soft Maple, which have historically been less-expensive alternative to Sap/Btr or #1&2 White Hard Maple.

硬楓木——也稱之為糖槭或黑糖槭——占美國東部硬木立木蓄積量的7%，其中主要生長在密歇根州、威斯康星州、紐約州、賓夕法尼亞州、緬因州、新罕布什爾州和弗蒙特州。硬楓木也是加拿大東部的一個(gè)主要硬木樹種。硬楓木是一種帶有白色邊材的緊密紋理的木材。它是北美硬木樹種中最重和最硬的木材之一，有極佳的耐磨性，但它又能容易地被砂光和涂飾。大多數(shù)生產(chǎn)商現(xiàn)在按照顏色來對(duì)硬楓木材分類，以最大化地得到邊材。

在過去的10年里，廚柜業(yè)一直是硬楓木的最大北美終端用戶，因?yàn)橄M(fèi)者青睞它光亮潔凈的外觀。但最近幾年，因?yàn)橄M(fèi)者的偏好已轉(zhuǎn)向油漆和深色著色的廚柜，對(duì)棕色的硬楓木、未經(jīng)挑選的硬楓木，甚至也對(duì)軟楓木的需求增加，它們歷來是邊材級(jí)/較好級(jí)或普1級(jí)和普2級(jí)白色硬楓木的較為便宜的替代用材。