Handbook of hardwoods

Hardwood is wood from deciduous trees and broad-leaf evergreen trees.All hardwoods are angiosperms (flowering plants) which are the most assorted and largest group of land plants. Hardwoods all have enclosed nuts or seeds. Hardwoods are not always harder than softwoods, Balsa wood being a notable exception. Hardwoods have a more complex internal structure than softwoods. It is mostly solid wood fibers with hollow tubes (vessels) used to supply water to the tree. Hardwoods are often used to make items that get used a lot because of their density. These items include furniture, flooring, and utensils. They are also used in construction. Hardwoods are also less likely to decay or rot than softwoods. Furniture made by hardwood joinery is more expensive than that made from softwoods. Hardwood has very short fibers about 1mm in length and is so also used to make fine paper such as writing paper, tissue, and printing paper.