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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
Light-Induced Color Change
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 Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Tabebuia rosea

Trade Name
Roble

Family Name
Bignoniaceae

Synonyms
Tabebuia pentaphylla, Tecoma pentaphylla


Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Afina, Amapa, Amapa rosa, Amape, Apamate, Apamate ocobo, Cambora, Caoba del brasil, Cortes, Cortez, Guayacan, Macuelizo, Macuil, Macuilis, Macuiliz, Maculez, Maculigua, Maculis, Maculiz, Maculiz prieto, Maculizo, Mano de leon, Maqueliz, Maquilgua, Maquiliqua, Maquiliz, Maria blanco, Matilisquate, Mayflower, Ocobo, Orum, Otovo, Palo blanco, Palo de rosa, Palo yugo, Pink poui, Pink trumpet tree, Poirier, Poirier du pays, Poirier rouge, Roble, Roble blanc, Roble blanco, Roble colorado, Roble de guyana, Roble de la america central, Roble de rio, Roble de savana, Roble de yugo, Roble flor morado, Roble morado, Rosa morada, Rosa morado, Taipoca, Warakuri, Weisse roble, West Indian boxwood, White cedar, Witte roble

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

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Belize, Bolivia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guadelope [France], Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Balusters, Beams, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Ceiling, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Decks, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Marine construction, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Oars, Paneling , Paneling, Particleboard, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Railroad ties, Shingles, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative

Environmental Profile
Widespread
Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat
Status unknown in many of its growth areas
Rare in parts of its natural range
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center
Data source is Nature Conservancy
Abundant

This species is officially classified as Vulnerable within its natural habitat in Panama. Its status in the wild in Cuba, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela is listed as unknown because of insufficient information

Distribution Overview
Widely distributed in tropical America, and occurs from Mexico to northern South America and Ecuador. It occurs in a variety of habitats, but especially in somewhat swampy forests, from sea level to an altitude of about 3940 feet (1200 m). also widely cultivated.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Purple
Red
Brown
Greenish to greyish
Pale brown
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Dark brown
Golden brown
Chestnut - dark


Sapwood Color
Brown
Pink
Red
White to yellow
Same as heartwood
Merges gradually into the heartwood
Initially pale rose, then turns grayish brown upon exposure


Grain
Figure
Straight
Other (figure)
Distinct (figure)
Interlocked
Stripe (figure)
Wavy
Closed
Mottled (figure)
Even
Rays (figure)

Straight
Other figure
Distinct figure
Striped figure
Interlocked
Wavy
Mottled figure
Straight to interlocked
Rays figure


Texture
Fine
Even or uniform
Medium to coarse
Medium
Medium to fairly course
Fine
Coarse


Luster
Low
Lustrous
Medium


Natural Durability
Very durable
Resistant to marine borers
Durable
Moderately durable
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Very durable
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles)
Poor weathering properties
Non durable
Heartwood susceptible to marine borer attack
Heartwood is susceptible to attack by dry-wood insects
Heartwood has very little resistance to decay


Odor
Has an odor
No specific smell or taste


Light-Induced Color Change
Darker


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
Dry at a moderate speed
UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5
T6 - D2 (4/4) US
T3 - D1 (8/4) US
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid
Dry at a slow speed


Drying Defects
Splitting
Distortion
Slight twist/warp
Slight surface checking
No surface checking
Slight spring/bow
Slight end splitting
Slight cupping
No twisting or warping
No end splitting
No cupping, generally


Ease of Drying
Reconditioning Treatement
Easy
Tolerates severe drying schedules
Kiln dries well
Dries at a moderate rate with little degrade.


Kiln Drying Rate
Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm)


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is buttressed
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is fluted


Tree Size
Bole length is 10-20 m


Product Sources
It is one of the most widely distributed and abundant species in Central America.

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Roble wood is suggested as a subsitute for Ash (Fraxinus spp.) and Oak (Quercus sapp.)

Widely cultivated for ornamental trees

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


Boring
Fairly difficult to very difficult
Easy
Excellent results


Carving
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Very good response to preservative treatment
Clean and smooth surfaces


Cutting Resistance
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy
Easy to saw


Gluing
Easy to glue
Good gluing characteristics


Mortising
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Easy to mortise
Very good mortising properties


Moulding
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Easy to mould
Fairly good response to preservative treatment


Movement in Service
Small


Nailing
Possible if prebored
Easy to nail
Holds nails well
Thicker boards require pre-boring


Planing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Planes well, to a good finish
Easy to plane
Ease of planing is moderate
Requires some care to prevent rough surfaces
Planing properties are excellent


Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable
Heartwood is permeable

Penetration in the sapwood is total, but irregular, while it is partial, peripheral, and irregular in the heartwood.

Resistance to Splitting
Poor


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


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


Sanding
The sanding finish is generally good
Results improve with 100 grain sander


Screwing
Easy to screw


Turning
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Easy to turn
Good results
Very good turning characteristics


Veneering Qualities
Easy to cut
No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting
Material can converted into smooth and compact veneers


Steam Bending
Very Good to Excellent Results
Good
Moderate


Polishing
Satisfactory results
Good results


Staining
Finish is generally satisfactory


Strength Properties
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Max. crushing strength = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Volumetric = small
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Max. crushing strength = high
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Work to Maximum Load = low
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Weight=High
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Resists wearing and marring
Resists denting and marring
Hardness (side grain) = medium
Density = high
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high
Bending strength (MOR) = high

Bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) is high - comparable to Teak. Strength in compression parallel to grain is in the high range. Other species in this range include Teak, White oak, and Hard maple

Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength966513638psi
Density39lbs/ft3
Hardness987lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength48437054psi
Shearing Strength1494psi
Stiffness149516771000 psi
Work to Maximum Load1012inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.51
Weight3930lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage6%
Volumetric Shrinkage8%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength679958kg/cm2
Density624kg/m3
Hardness447kg
Maximum Crushing Strength340495kg/cm2
Shearing Strength105kg/cm2
Stiffness1051171000 kg/cm2
Work to Maximum Load0.700.84cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.51
Weight624480kg/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.

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

Caribbean Commission,1952,Information on properties of timbers gathered by questionnaire and,collated in the secretariat of the Caribbean Commission including some,related data from technical literature.,Caribbean Commission, Port of Spain, Trinidad Caribbean Timbers, their,Utilization and Trade within the area CTUTA/1/Doc.7 + App.1-18

Chichignoud, M., G. Deon, P. Detienne, B. Parant and P. Vantomme. 1990. Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne, CEDEX, France.

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

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

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

Fors, A.J.,1949,Maderas Industriales de Colombia,Caribbean Forester,10(3,pp161-96

Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara

Gomez-Vazquez, B.G.,1981,Wood structure and potential end uses of some lesser known Mexican timber,species,Thesis for Msc. Univ. Wales Bangor

Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory

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

Kynoch, W., Norton, N.A.,1938,Mechanical Properties of certain tropical woods chiefly from S. America,School of Forestry and Conservation, University of Michigan Bulletin,No.7

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

Lang, W.G.,1954,Forest Utilization in Saint Lucia British West Indies,Caribbean Forester 15 pp120-3

Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207

Ojeda, S. 1990. Apamate. Serie Maderas Commerciales de Venezuela, Ficha Tecnica No. 17. Instituto Forestal Latinoamerican, Merida, Venezuela, Agosto, 1990.

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.

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

Ribeiro, E.B.,1926,Amapa for Interior Trim and Flooring,Tropical Woods,1(8,pp8-9

Saks, E.V.,1954,Tropical Hardwoods for veneer Production in Mexico,Caribbean Forester,15(3&4, pp112-9

Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T

Slooten van der, H.J., Martinez, E.P.,1959,Descripcion y propiedades de algunas madeiras Venezolanas,Inst. for Lation Americano de Investigacion y Capaciticion Boletin,Informaturo Dirulgaturo

Smith, E.E.,1954,The Forests of Cuba,Maria Moors Cabot Foundation,U.S.A. Publication, No. 2

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

Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd.

Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA]

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

Venezuela-Laboratories Nacional de Productos Forestates,1974,Caraderisticas, Propiedades y usos de 104 Maderas de los allos Ilanos,occidentales,Min. Ag. y Cria, Universidad de Los andes, Merida, Venezuela Lab.Nac. de,Prod. For.

Villamil, F.G.,1971,Maderas Colombianas,Proexpo Colombia

Wadsworth, F.H.,1943,Roble, a Valuable Forest Tree in Puerto Rico,Caribbean Forester,4(2,pp59-76

Wangaard, F.F., Chudnoff, M.,1950,The Steam Bending Properties of Certain Tropical American Woods,Yale Univ. School of Forestry Technical Report No. 6

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

WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World, World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Plants Programme, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.

Wolcott, G.N.,1940,A List of the Woods arranged according to their resistance to the attack,of,the 'Polilla', the Dry-wood Termite of the West Indies, Cryptotermes,brevis Walker,Caribbean Forester,1(4,PP1-10

Wolcott, G.N.,1950,An Index to the Termite Resistance of Woods,Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Puerto Rico Bulletin,No.85

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









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