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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 Certified Source Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Weathering Scientific Name Simarouba glauca Trade Name Marupa Family Name Simaroubaceae Synonyms Simarouba medicinalis, Simaruba amara, Simaruba officinalis Common Names Aceitillo, Aceituna, Aceituno, Aceituno negrito, Bitter dam, Bitter damson, Bitter dan, Bitterwood, Boarwood, Bois blanc, Bois frene, Caixeta, Cedro amargo, Cedro blanco, Chiriuna, Cuna, Daguillo, Damsel, Frene, Gall tree, Gavilan, Guitarro, Gusano, Jocote, Jocote de mico, Jucumico, Malacacheta, Marouba, Maruba, Marupa, Mountain damson, Negrito, Olive amargo, Olivo, Paljul'te, Palo amargo, Palo blanco, Paradise tree, Parahyba, Paraiba, Pasa-ak, Pasac, Pasaque, Pau parahyba, Rabo de lagarto blanco, Roblecillo, Simarouba, Simaruba, Simarupa, Soemaroeba, Stavewood, Tamanqueira, X-pasak-il, Xpasak, Xpazakil, Zapatero Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Suriname, United States, Venezuela Common Uses Blockboard, Boxes and crates, Cooperages, Furniture components, Furniture, Interior construction, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Moldings, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Packing cases, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Toys, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The species occurs in Central and South America. It grows in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, French Guyane, Peru, Surinam, Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Orange Purple White to cream Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to yellowish-white Pale brown Sapwood Color Yellow White Brown Pink Orange Same as heartwood Not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Figure Weak (figure) Even Rippled (figure) Straight Weak figure Rippled figure Texture Fine Medium Resinous and oily Very fine Medium Oily streaks Coarse Coarse to medium Luster Low Pronounced Lustrous High Natural Durability Very durable Durable Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to marine borers Non durable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Heartwood susceptible to attack by decay fungi Very little or no natural resistance to attack by decay fungi and wood destroying insects Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Prone to blue stain Not readily attacked by insects Weathering Excellent Odor Has an odor No distinct odor or taste Bitter, quinne-like taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Drying Defects Checking Distortion Splitting Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Slight twist/warp Slight tendency to distort and check Moderate end spitting Liable to stain Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Thick Stock Requires Care Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Air dries rapidly, with little degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Kiln drying rate (green to 12% mc) is rapid, typically from less than 10 days for a board under 32 mm, to less than 30 days for a board 63 mm and thicker. Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is a regular source of timber. Small quantities are exported from the producing countries. Certified Source Certified Source Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Dulls cutting edges very slightly Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Internal stresses in trees may cause logs to split during sawing Fairly easy to saw Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Surface Preparation Easy to glue Good gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Medium Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Planes and works well in other machining operations Machines with very little difficulty Clean, finished surfaces Can be planed to a smooth finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is permeable Responds very well to preservative treatment Good absorption properties Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Screwing Pre-boring recommended Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to screw Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy No drying degrade Suitable for peeling Easy to cut Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Painting Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Responds well to polishing Grain filling after sanding is reported to give the best surface finishing results Staining Fair to Good Results Finish is generally good Varnishing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results