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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Comments
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
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resin Content
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Spondias mombin

Trade Name
Jobo

Family Name
Anacardiaceae

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Acaiba, Ajuelo, Bala, Caja, Caja mirim, Caja seira, Ciruela, Ciruela amarilla, Ciruela de job, Hobo, Hobu, Hoeboe, Hog plum, Hogplum, Hubu, Jamaica plum, Jobito, Jobo, Jobo blanco, Jobo corronchoso, Marapa, Merida, Mombin, Monbe, Mope, Moppe, Pau da tapera, Plum, Spanish plum, Ubo, Uvos, Wild plum, Yellow mom, Yellow mombin, Yucatan plum

Regions of Distribution
Africa, Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico [US], Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

Common Uses
Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Dyewood , Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, General carpentry, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matchboxes, Matches, Medicinal use, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Particleboard, Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Tannin, Tool handles, Toys, Trimming, Turnery, Utility furniture, Veneer, Wainscotting, Wardrobes

Environmental Profile
Vulnerable
Abundant/Secure
Rare in some parts of range, but also rather widespread and abundant globally
Data source is Nature Conservancy


Distribution Overview
Distributed throughout West Indies (except Bahamas), and from southern Mexico to Peru, Bolivia and Brazil, in part cultivated or naturalized. It is also planted in southern Florida. The tree usually grows along roadsides and fence rows, in pastures and forests in the coastal, moist limestone, and lower mountain regions of Puerto Rico, perhaps naturalized rather than native. also believed to have been introduced into Africa from Central or South America, and is widely cultivated there on farmlands and around towns and villages for its fruits and as a living fence.

Heartwood Color
Yellow
White
Brown
Orange
Red
Purple
White to cream
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Brown
Small stripes and streaks
Pale red to pink
Pale gray to light brown-yellow
Pale brown


Sapwood Color
White
Brown
Yellow
Red
Same as heartwood
White to yellow
Paler than heartwood
Not differentiated from heartwood


Grain
Straight
Interlocked
Figure
Even
Growth rings (figure)
Weak (figure)

Straight
Interlocked
Weak figure
Straight to slightly roey
Clear growth rings (figure)


Texture
Coarse
Medium
Coarse
Medium to coarse
Medium
Coarse to medium


Luster
Medium
High
Lustrous
Fairly lustrous


Natural Durability
Susceptible to insect attack
Non-durable
Non-resistant to termites
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Perishable
Resistant to powder post beetles
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Perishable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Non durable
Susceptible to termite attack
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Susceptible to attack by marine borers
Susceptible to attack by fresh water borers
Susceptible to attack by blue-stain
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present

Logs are liable to stain if left in the forest for too long, and should therefore be removed and treated as soon as possible after felling.

Odor
No distinct odor or taste


Resin Content
Contains sticky resin


Kiln Schedules
Dry at a moderate speed


Drying Defects
Splitting
Checking
Distortion
Internal Honeycombing Possible
Collapse
Extension of Existing Shakes
Ring Shakes
Slight twist/warp
Slight surface checking
Severe twisting/warping
Severe collapse and honeycomb
Moderate twist/warp
Air seasoning accompanied by slight checking


Ease of Drying
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Slowly
Satisfactory drying properties


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries slowly
Slow
Drying rate is slow


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is not buttressed
Bole/stem form is cylindrical
Bole/stem form is straight


Tree Size
Tree height is 30-40 m
Bole length is 20-30 m
Bole length is 10-20 m
Sapwood width is 10-15 cm
Sapwood width is 15-20 cm
Tree height is 20-30 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Tree height is 40-50 m
Bole length is 0-10 m


Product Sources
The timber has little commercial value and is exported from the tropics in very small quantities. It is usually priced in the low to medium range when available.

Most of the species in the Spondias genus are cultivated for their edible plum-like fruit.

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

The leaves are used for medicinal purposes.

Tough and strong for its low weight

Blunting Effect
Moderate
Very little blutning effect on tools


Boring
Easy
Difficult
Bored surfaces are usually clean


Carving
Carves well in dry condition


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Low resistance to sawing
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Good joining material
Glues well


Mortising
Finishes poorly
Easy to mortise
Easy mortising operations


Moulding
With the exception of a few cases, worked surfaces are clean
Responds well to ordinary tools in mortising
Good finishing results
Easy to mould


Movement in Service
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement


Nailing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Holds nails well
Fair nailing and nailholding properties
Easy to nail


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Planes well, to a good finish
Works easily with hand and machine tools in planing and most operations
Planes to a satisfactory finish
Except in a few machining operations, it generally yields smooth, clean surface
Easy to plane


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Permeable sapwood
Sapwood is permeable
Sapwood is permeable
Moderately resistant to preservative treatment
Heartwood is permeable
Heartwood is moderately resistant


Resistance to Splitting
Good


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Easy to machine
Responds well to hand tools


Routing & Recessing
Routs well


Sanding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Yield clean/smooth surfaces, in most cases
Satisfactory sanding results
Sands readily
Moderate sanding qualities


Turning
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Poor results
Good turning qualities


Veneering Qualities
Veneers easily
Suitable for peeling
Veneers moderately easy
Difficult to veneer
No drying degrade
Suitable for slicing
Easy to cut
Drying degrade is often moderate to severe, with collapse, buckles, and splilts


Steam Bending
Fair to Good Results
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Poor to Very Poor Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Polishes and finishes well


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Max. crushing strength = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft.
Weight=Medium
Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Not hard
Max. crushing strength = medium
Dents and marrs easily
Density=Average/Medium
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Bending stength in air-dried condition...is medium


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength664410800psi
Density30lbs/ft3
Hardness373lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength25984519psi
Shearing Strength1009psi
Stiffness109912511000 psi
Toughness73inch-lbs
Work to Maximum Load46inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.39
Weight2925lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage6%
Volumetric Shrinkage9%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength467759kg/cm2
Density480kg/m3
Hardness169kg
Maximum Crushing Strength182317kg/cm2
Shearing Strength70kg/cm2
Stiffness77871000 kg/cm2
Toughness84cm-kg
Work to Maximum Load0.280.42cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.39
Weight464400kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage6%

References
Belize,1946,42 Secondary Hardwood Timbers of British Honduras,British Honduras Forest Department Bulletin,No.1

Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers - The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research

Bodig, J. and B. A. Jayne. 1982. Mechanics of Wood and Wood Composites. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York.

Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research

Brooks, R.L., et al,1941,Durability tests on Untreated Timbers in Trinidad,Caribbean Forester,2(3,pp101-119

Carter, D.T.,1943,The Manufacture of shingles from local woods in Trinidad and Tobago,Caribbean Forester,4(3,pp107-11

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

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

I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting

Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford.

Kline, M. 1986. Spondias mombin - Jobo. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 331.

Little, E.L., Wadsworth, F.H.,1964,Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.249

Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98

Marshall, R.C.,1934,Trees of Trinidad and Tobago,Government Printer Port of Spain Trinidad

Record, S.J.,1939,American Woods of the Family Anacardiaceae,Tropical Woods,8(60,pp11-45

Swabey, C.,1941,The Principal Timbers of Jamaica,Department of Science and Agriculture Jamaica Bulletin No.29

Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4

Wangaard, F.F., et al,1954,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 4,Tropical Woods,14(99, pp1-187

WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.

Williams, L. 1936. Woods of Northeastern Peru. Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series, Volume XV, Publication 377, Chicago.









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