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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. Boring Carving Comments Common Names Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Sarcocephalus cordatus Trade Name Canary cheesewood Family Name Common Names Canary cheesewood Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The genus Sarcocephalus is well represented in southeast Asia, including the Philippines and the Malay Peninsula. S. cordatus occurs in the Philippines, India, Burma, and Sri Lanka. Heartwood Color Brown Purple Red Black Green/grey Orange-Yellow or saffron-yellow Orange-Red Loses brightness after prolonged exposure Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Pink Green/Grey Red Not distinct from heartwood Grain Interlocked Shallowly interlocked Broad stripe on quartersawn surfaces Texture Fine Medium Moderately fine to slightly coarse Luster Low Medium Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Resistant to marine borers Resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to termites Very durable Durable Non-resistant to termites Perishable Non-durable Low natural resistance to decay when in contact with the ground Deteriorates rapidly when in contact with ground Odor Has an odor No distinct odor or taste Drying Defects Splitting Checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Seasons with little degrade Liable to stain Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Trees are small to medium-sized, Comments Medicinal purposes Yield edible fruit Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fairly difficult to very difficult Fair to good results Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Moderate to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Compared to that of cheese Known in Australia as Canary cheesewood, wood produced by S. cordatus is highly regarded for its saffron-yellow color Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Poor to Very Poor Results Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Works in most operations without difficulty to produce a clean finish Highly suitable for carving Excellent turning qualitites Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Veneering Qualities Difficult to veneer Polishing Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Numerical Data Item Green Dry English References Desch, H. E. 1954. Manual of Malayan Timbers - Volume II. Malayan Forest Records, No. 15. Malaya Publishing House Ltd., Singapore. Howard, A.L. 1920. A Manual of the Timbers of the World:Their Characteristics and Uses, Third Edition. McMillan and Co., London, 751 pp. Reyes, L.J. 1938. Philippine Woods. Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Technical Bulletin 7, Commonwealth of the Philippines, Bureau of Printing, Manila.