Castor Arali

Plywood made from Sen was once exported to the United States in large quantities and was known simply as “Sen.”

English Name	Castor aralia
Scientific Name	Kalopanax pictus
Other Names	Sen, Sennoki, Harigiri
Family	Araliaceae (Ginseng family)
Origin	Japan (mainly Hokkaido), Korean Peninsula, Northeastern China
Appearance	Growth rings are clearly visible Fine texture, generally straight grain No clear distinction between sapwood and heartwood Color: yellowish white to light yellow-brown
Wood Properties	Finishes well Low natural durability Nuka-sen: low specific gravity, soft, easy to process, but weak Oni-sen: Onisen has high strength, but it tends to warp and is difficult to work with Sen wood with low specific gravity and a soft texture is referred to as 'Nukasen”. Sen wood with relatively high specific gravity and hardness is referred to as 'Onisen”.
Applications	Furniture, plywood, tools, construction, decorative veneers. Especially suitable for applications where surface appearance is important
Product Examples	Logs, sawn timber, building materials