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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 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 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