A New Color Indicator for the Differentiation of Sapwood and Heartwood in Douglas-Fir

A chemical color test to differentiate between sapwood and heartwood of Douglas-fir was developed. The test uses a Bromcresol green solution 0.04 percent (pH 3.8 to 5.4, yellow to blue) as the color indicator. The Bromcresol green solution is rapid in its action, staining the heartwood yellow and the sapwood greenish-blue to blue. The stain indicator produces a sharp delineating line between the sapwood and heartwood on all the Douglas-fir wood sections commonly obtained from the Rocky Mountain and the Pacific Northwest regions. It is also indicated that the color test is satisfactory for western larch, and preliminary work indicates that the indicator may be applicable for eastern and western hemlock.

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