The strong relationship between anatomical properties of wood and many of its other properties were known for some time but it was not possible to quantify these relationships due to the difficulty in the past to make quantitative analysis for wood anatomy. With the discovery of the stereological techniques which facilitated the quantitative analysis of wood anatomy, it became possible to establish mathematical models relating physical, mechanical and other wood properties to anatomical properties. The main objective of this study was to determine some anatomical, physical, mechanical, and technological properties of the studied wood species and establish relationships between anatomical properties, as independent variables, and the other properties, as dependent variables, in the form of mathematical models with which we can predict physical and mechanical properties from anatomical properties and find the most important anatomical properties affecting the other properties. All anatomical properties were determined from macerated fibers. The physical properties tested comprised density, moisture content and shrinkage. Static bending was also carried out for determining modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE). This, in addition to compression parallel to the grain (COM). All physical and mechanical properties were carried out according to standard procedures. Analysis of variance, correlation analysis, simple regression and multiple regression analysis were carried out to achieve the objectives. The results of the analysis of variance revealed significant differences in most of the properties studied ? anatomical, physical and mechanical between the five species. The details of these results are given in the first paper.

Anatomical Properties; Physical Properties; Mechanical Properties; Modeling.