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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 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 Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Swartzia cubensis Trade Name Wamara Family Name Caesalpiniaceae Common Names Catalox, Katalox, Wamara Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Columbia, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela Common Uses Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Ceiling, Crossties, Decorative veneer, Domestic flooring, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Flooring, Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Interior construction, Interior trim, Light construction, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling , Parquet flooring, Railroad ties, Shakes, Sheathing, Shingles, Siding, Stair rails, Stairworks, Sub-flooring, Trimming, Veneer Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Several species in the genus Swartzia are reported to occur in tropical America, from southern Mexico through Central America, the West Indies and southward to northern South America. It is rather abundant in the Guyanas and the Amazon area. Heartwood Color Brown Green/grey Red Reddish brown Heartwood is slow in forming Dark brown Color is uniform to variegated Brown, red, dark reddish brown with nearly black stripes after prolonged exposure Sapwood Color Brown White/Cream Well defined Grain Even Figure Straight Irregular Straight to irregular Texture Coarse Medium Medium to very fine Luster Medium High Medium Natural Durability Non-durable Durable Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Resistant to powder post beetles Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Heartwood susceptible to marine borer attack Heartwood resistant to dry-wood termites Heartwood has high resistance to decay Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Sawdust can cause irritation in some individuals Kiln Schedules T2-C1 (8/4) US T2 - C2 (4/4) US Schedule B (4/4) United Kingdom Drying Defects Checking Distortion Severe twisting/warping Severe surface checking Ease of Drying Rapidly Air dries with moderate difficulty Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Tree Size Bark width is 5-10 mm Tree height is 50-60 m Comments The species has been suggested as a potential substitute for Ebony (Diospyros spp.) Blunting Effect High to severe Medium effect Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderately difficult due to high density Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Large Unstable Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Planing is difficult due to high density Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is highly resistant Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Polishing Excellent results Strength Properties Very heavy Hardness (side grain) = very hard Density = very high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 21168 28097 psi Density 69 lbs/ft3 Hardness 3616 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 22413 15131 psi Stiffness 2940 3557 1000 psi Toughness 255 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.92 Weight 68 56. lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1488 1975 kg/cm2 Density 1105 kg/m3 Hardness 1640 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 1575 1063 kg/cm2 Stiffness 206 250 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 293 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.92 Weight 1089 897. kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Perpetua Hardwoods. Sea Star Trading Co. - Purveyors of Fine Wood. Newport, Oregon. Personal Communication, 1993. Record, S.J. and R.W. Hess. 1943. Timbers of the New World. Published on the Charles Lathrop Pack Foundation, Yale University Press, New Haven CT.