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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
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Tabebuia donnell-smithii

Trade Name
Primavera

Family Name
Bignoniaceae

Synonyms
Cybistax Donnel


Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Campeche, Chiapas, Copal, Cortez, Cortez blanco, Duranga, Durango, Flor de zope, Oaxaca, Palo blanco, Pequia marfim, Prima vera, Prima vera mahogany, Primavera, Roble, San Juan, Tabasco, White mahogany

Regions of Distribution
Central America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua

Common Uses
Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling , Paneling, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Trimming, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting, Wardrobes

Environmental Profile
Abundant/Secure
Status has not been officially assessed


Distribution Overview
The geographical distribution of Primavera includes Central America, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. The trees are reported to thrive on moist, rich soils, but have also adapted to dry areas.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Purple
Yellow
Black
Red
Orange
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
White to cream
Pale brown
Pale yellow
Darkens to yellowish rose with red, orange, and brown stripes

Primavera is reported to resemble Ceylon satinwood in appearance

Sapwood Color
Yellow
White
Brown
Green/Grey
Green
Same as heartwood
Paler than heartwood
White to yellow
Color not distinct from heartwood


Grain
Figure
Interlocked
Straight
Stripe (figure)
Other (figure)
Mottled (figure)
Closed
Even
Distinct (figure)
Fiddleback (figure)
Crossed
Ribbon (figure)
Rippled (figure)
Wavy
Variable (figure)

Interlocked
Straight
Striped figure
Other figure
Mottled figure
Wavy
Variable figure
Straight to interlocked
Rippled figure
Ribbon figure
Ribbon figure alternate between light and dark bands depending on alignment of fiber
Figure shows fiddleback occasionally
Figure shows "rain drop" occasionally
Distinct figure
Crossed

Exhibits a ribbon figure which can alternate between light and dark due to the shifting in alignment of bands of fiber at regular intervals. The bands are also reported to dissect further into a wide variety of cross-figures, of which mottle, rain-drop and narrow fiddle-back are the most common.

Texture
Medium
Fine
Coarse
Medium to coarse
Medium
Fine to medium
Medium to fairly course
Coarse


Luster
Pronounced
Lustrous
Fairly lustrous


Natural Durability
Durable
Non-durable
Very durable
Susceptible to insect attack
Perishable
Resistant to powder post beetles
Resistant to termites
Non-resistant to termites
Moderately durable
Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Non durable
Moderately durable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Heartwoood susceptible to beetle attack
Heartwood is vulnerable to pin-hole borer attack
Heartwood has very little resistance to decay
Good weathering properties
Durable


Odor
No specific smell or taste


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
T6 - F3 (4/4) US
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid


Drying Defects
Splitting
Distortion
Case Hardening
Slight twist/warp
Slight surface checking
No surface checking
Slight spring/bow
No end splitting
No cupping, generally
Shrinkage tends to be slight
No twisting or warping


Ease of Drying
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Slowly
Easy
Dries easily with very little degrade


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries slowly
Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm)
Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm)


Tree Size
Tree height is 10-20 m
Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Tree height is 20-30 m
Tree height is 30-40 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Tree height is 0-10 m


Plantation trees are reported to mature to marketable sizes in 20 to 35 years.

Product Sources
Primavera trees are grown also in plantations.

Most of the material on the US market is believed to come from Guatemala, where the law requires Primavera logs to be processed and exported in lumber and veneer forms only.

Supplies are scarce in the veneer form, but are somewhat available in lumber form in the United States. The material is priced in the costly range. Exports to Europe are very rare.

The value and marketability of the material is dictated by the time of year the tree is felled: the sap of the tree rises and fall with the phases of the moon, and the best product is from trees felled in 'the dark of the moon', when the sap is low.

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Harvesting tree at suggested period reduces sap exudation from log ends

It is recommended that the tree be felled in 'the dark of the moon', since unlike trees in the temperate regions, the sap rises and falls with the phases of the moon instead of in winter and spring.

Sap attracts insects that may damage the timber

Sap content is reported to depend upon the time of yeat the tree is felled

Subsituted for hard woods because it works easily in most machining operations

Blunting Effect
High to severe
Medium effect
Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild
Blunting effect on machining is slight


Boring
Fairly difficult to very difficult
Easy
Good results


Carving
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Good results


Cutting Resistance
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Cutting resistance with dry wood is moderate


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Easy to glue


Mortising
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Finishes well
Easy to mortise


Moulding
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Good moulding properties


Movement in Service
Small
Stable


Nailing
Pre-Boring Recommended
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Thin boards are prone to split
Holds nails well
Easy to nail


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Ease of planing is moderate
Reducing cutting angle prevents tearing in interlocked areas
Planes well, to a good finish
Easy to plane
Difficult to plane


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Permeable sapwood
Sapwood is modertely permeable
Heartwood is moderately resistant


Resistance to Splitting
Poor


Response to Hand Tools
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Responds Poorly
Easy to machine
Good response


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Routing characteristics are good


Sanding
Sanding characteristics are good


Screwing
Pre-boring recommended
Thinner stock requires carefull screwing to avoid splitting
Good screw holding properties


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Easy to turn
Material with interlocked grain should be avoided
Good results
Fairly good response to preservative treatment


Veneering Qualities
No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting
There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits
Easy to cut


Steam Bending
Seldom used for steam bending applications


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Satisfactory results
Good results
Excellent results


Staining
Finish is generally satisfactory
Stains well


Varnishing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good results


Strength Properties
Max. crushing strength = medium
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shrinkage, Volumetric = small
Work to Maximum Load = very low
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Weight = moderate
Toughness (total work) = very low
Surfaces may dent easily
Soft
Max. crushing strength = low
Max. crushing strength = high
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Density = medium
Crushing strength = medium

Bending strength in the air-dry condition is medium, being much weaker than White oak or Teak

Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength752410927psi
Crushing Strength784862psi
Density29lbs/ft3
Hardness799lbs
Impact Strength15inches
Maximum Crushing Strength37976103psi
Shearing Strength1491psi
Static Bending40877164psi
Stiffness110112251000 psi
Toughness74inch-lbs
Work to Maximum Load66inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.390.43
Weight2825lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage5%
Volumetric Shrinkage8%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength529768kg/cm2
Crushing Strength5560kg/cm2
Density464kg/m3
Hardness362kg
Impact Strength38cm
Maximum Crushing Strength266429kg/cm2
Shearing Strength104kg/cm2
Static Bending287503kg/cm2
Stiffness77861000 kg/cm2
Toughness85cm-kg
Work to Maximum Load0.420.42cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.390.43
Weight448400kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage5%

References
Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 9 Central America and the Caribbean,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

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

Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods - Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London

Constantine, Jr., A.J. 1975. Know Your Woods: A Complete Guide to Trees, Woods, and Veneers, Revised by H.J. Hobbs. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.

Dickinson, F.E.,1949,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 1,Tropical Woods,13(95,pp1-140

Flores Rodriguez, L.J.,1969,Description Caracteristicas y usos de 25 Maderas tropicales,Mexicanas,Camera Nacional de la Industria de la Construccion Serie Maderas de Mexico

Harrar, E.S.,1942,Some Physical Properties of Modern Cabinet Woods 3. Directional and Volume,Shrinkage,Tropical Woods,9(71, pp26-32

Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.

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

Imported Wood Purchasing Guide : A Comprehensive Purchasing Reference for Imported Woods. 20th Edition. 1992. International Wood Trade Publication, Inc. 1235 Sycamore View, Box 34908, Memphis, Tennessee.

Kaiser, J. 1990. Wood of the Month Annual - Primavera: the White Mahogany, Supplement to Wood and Wood Products, September 1990. Page 10A.

Kline, M. 1982. Cybistax donnell-smithii - Primavera. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 124-125.

Kryn, J.M.,1954,Roble blanco, Amapa, Mayflower (Tabebuia pentaphylla,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,Information Leaflet Foreign Woods,1980,10pp

Kukachka, B.F.,1958,Primavera (Cybistax donnell-smithii,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Foreign Wood Series No.2021

Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125

Lamb, A.F.A., Wangaard, F.F.,1950,The Gluing Properties of certain Tropical American Woods,Yale Univ. School of Forestry Technical Report,4

Lincoln, W.M. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.

Luz Reis, C.N.,1951,Primavera: Important Furniture Wood of Central America,Caribbean Forester,12(2,pp75-83

Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press

Pennington, T.D., Sarukhan, J.,1968,Manual para la Identificacion de campo de los Principales Arboles,Tropicales de Mexico,Inst. Nac. Inv. For. Mexico

Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1940,American Woods of the Family Bignoniaceae,Tropical Woods,8(63,pp 9-38

Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press

Record, S.J., Mell, C.D.,1924,Timbers of Tropical America,Yale Univ. Press

Record, S.J.,1927,Trees of Honduras,Tropical Woods,10, pp10-47

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

Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition

U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72

Wangaard, F.F., and A.F. Muschler. 1952. Tropical Woods - Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods, Volume III, No. 98. School of Forestry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

Wangaard, F.F., Muschler, A.F.,1952,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 3,Tropical Woods,14(98, pp1-190

Wangaard, F.F.,1951,The Physical Properties of Tropical Woods,F.A.O. For. & For. Prod. Studies Series No.3 Tropical Woods and Ag.,Residues as sources of pulp,pp10-16

Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series









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