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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Quassia amara Trade Name Acuasia Family Name Simaroubaceae Common Names Acuasia, Bitterholz, Bitterwood, Bois amer, Bois cajan, Bois de frene, Coachi, Cruceto morado, Cruseta, Cuasia, Cuasisa de Jamaica, Echtes quassiaholz, Fliegenholz, Guabo, Guavito, Guavito amargo, Guina, Hombre grande, Kabodan, Kwassi, Kwassi bita, Kwassie hout, Lena amarga, Lignum quassiae verum, Padilla, Palo Isidoro, Pau de Surinam, Pensilero, Puesilde, Quashi, Quasi, Quasia, Quassia, Quina de cayenne, Quinquina de cayenne, Surinam quassia, Tinco Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Guyana, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago Common Uses Chemical derivatives, Food containers Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Green Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Sapwood Color White Brown Red White to yellow Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Straight Straight Texture Fine Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Durable Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Respiratory effects Drying Defects Ring Shakes Internal Honeycombing Possible Checking Collapse Discoloration Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Gluing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Resistance to Abrasion High Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Screwing Pre-boring recommended Very Good to Excellent Results Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Surface Preparation Fair to Good Results Staining Surface Preparation Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 32 lbs/ft3 Weight 31 25 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Density 512 kg/m3 References Fanshawe, D.B.,1954,Forest Products of British Guiana Part 1 Principal Timbers,Forest Department British Guiana Forestry Bulletin (New Series 2nd,Edition,No.1 Marshall, R.C.,1934,Trees of Trinidad and Tobago,Government Printer Port of Spain Trinidad Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Record, S.J., Mell, C.D.,1924,Timbers of Tropical America,Yale Univ. Press Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13