- Xylotheque
A xylotheque (from the Greek "xylon" for "wood" and "theque" meaning "repository") is a wood collection.
But just as a
library is something more than merely a collection of books, a xylotheque is something more than just collection of wood. Almost all rather developed countries with worries about their flora have at least one xylotheque with theirflora and one with flora from other places in the world.The xylotheque with a largest number of samples is the
Samuel James Record Collection of the Forestry School ofYale University in New HavenConnecticut which houses 60,000 samples. The second largest xylotheque belongs to theRoyal Museum of Central Africa inTervuren ,Belgium . As of September 2004, it had 57,165 samples.Fact|date=September 2007Other important xylotheques are:Fact|date=September 2007
A xylotheque is useful to understand the
scientific andeconomic value of the existing woods. At the same time, their samples are used to study the xylotomy, physical and mechanical wood properties, such as durability and preservation. The existence of xylotheques has also immediate applications for anyone who needs to make a morphological-visual analysis of wood. These include technicians, specialists and woodworkers, and also those involved in industry and commerce.Even a modest wood collection has value, as each of its samples is a compendium or monography that encloses a vast information. They are very important in museums, schools and universities for
didactic anddocent value.A xylotheque becomes really interesting and its use is essential as a study tool and a reference to investigations about identification, use and substitution of woods in real state and movable of our cultural patrimony, as well as in preservation and restoration.
ee also
*
List of woods
*Wood
*Timber
*Tree
*Arboretum
*Botanical gardens External links
* [http://www.woodcollectors.org International Wood Collectors Society]
* [http://www.xiloteca.com Xiloteca Manuel Soler] (One of the largest private collection of wood samples)
* [http://www.xiloteca.net/ Wood Collection Xiloteca Imanol Artola (Zumárraga, España)]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/alizarazu/sets/72157605663330431/ Wood Collection]
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