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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 Schedules
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Odor
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Turning
Veneering Qualities
Weathering

Scientific Name
Terminalia amazonia

Trade Name
Nargusta

Family Name
Combretaceae

Synonyms
Terminalia odontoptera, Chuncoa amazonia, Chuncoa obovata, Gimbernata obvata


Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Almendro, Amarillo carabazuelo, Amarillo de panama, Amarillon, Anangossiti, Angouchi, Araca, Bolador, Bullywood, Canshan, Chasemiich, Chicharro, Cochun, Coffee mortar, Cumbillo, Esemi, Fukadi, Ginja hoehoe, Guaba, Guacharaco, Guatuso, Guayabo, Guayabo leon, Guayabo negro, Guayabon, Guyabillo, Hill fukadi, Kil, Kung, Kwai, Leche amarillo, Matora, Merendiba branca, Monteclaro, Nangossiti, Naranjo, Nargusta, Pardillo negro, Pata de danto, Pau mulato brancho, Pookadi, Roble, Roble amarillo, Roble de esmeraldas, Roble macuelizo, Tamarotan, Tilautaea, Volador, White olive, White oliver

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

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

Common Uses
Beams, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building construction, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, 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, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Planks, Plywood, Posts, Railroad ties, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative

Environmental Profile
Status has not been officially assessed


Distribution Overview
The natural growth range of the species extends from southern Mexico southward through Central America and into northern South America to Brazil and Peru. It is also found in Trinidad, and is a common tree in the Wallaba forests of Guyana. It is also regularly found in the forests of Belize.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Yellow
Purple
Red
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Greenish to greyish
Pale brown
Brown
Reddish brown
Olive-Brown

The heartwood has a variegated yellow-brown to olive-brown color, occasionally with clear reddish stripes or streaks.

Sapwood Color
White to yellow
Same as heartwood
Not clearly differentiated from the heartwood
Different than heartwood


Grain
Figure
Interlocked
Straight
Stripe (figure)
Wavy
Crossed
Closed
Even
Irregular
Growth rings (figure)
Rippled (figure)
Spiral
Variable (figure)
Weak (figure)


Texture
Medium
Medium
Fine to medium


Luster
Lustrous
Pronounced
Medium to high


Natural Growth Defects
Trees with trunk diameters above 20 to 25 inches (50 to 62 cm) are often hollow at the center.

Natural Durability
Durable
Durable
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack
Moderately durable
Very durable
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Susceptible to attack by subterranean termites
Resistant to wood staining fungal attack
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to attack by dry-wood insects
Heartwood has high natural resistance to decay

Species should preferably be used under protection from the elements since it has little or no resistance to the destructive effects of the weather.

Weathering
Good


Odor
Has an odor
No specific smell or taste


Kiln Schedules
Dry at a slow speed
UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3
Dry at a moderate speed
UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2
T3 - C2 (4/4); T3 - C1 (8/4) US


Drying Defects
Checking
Distortion
Severe surface checking
Severe end splitting
Slight twist/warp
Moderate surface checking
Moderate end spitting
Slight end splitting
Severe twisting/warping
No surface checking
May warp, check and split during degrade


Ease of Drying
Rapidly
Reconditioning Treatement
Little degrade
Difficult
Variable results.
Moderate

Center of thicker material is decidedly difficult to dry out.

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


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Severe dulling effect on tool edges
Blunting effect on machining is moderate


Boring
Fair to good results
Easy
Responds well to boring operations


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Relatively good response to carving operations


Cutting Resistance
Fairly difficult to saw


Gluing
Easy to glue
Moderate gluing properties
Glues well
Difficult to glue


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Easy to mortise
Good mortising properties


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Easy to mould
Fairly easy to mould


Movement in Service
Medium

Dimensional changes in response to fluctuations in atmospheric conditions are moderate after manufacture.

Nailing
Possible if prebored
Pre-boring required
Difficult to nail


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Easy to plane
Planes well, to a good finish

Straight-Grained material is easy to plane. Wood with roey grain may pluck or tear in planing and may require reduced cutting angles for better results.

Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable heartwood
Permeable sapwood
Sapwood is extremely resistant
Heartwood is extremely resistant
Sapwood response to preservative treatment is variable
Heartwood responds poorly to preservative treatment


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Difficult to machine
Easy to machine
Responds poorly to hand tools
Moderate working qualities


Routing & Recessing
Fair to Good Results


Sanding
Good sanding properties


Screwing
Possible if prebored
Good screw holding properties
Difficult to screw


Turning
Fair to Good Results
Good results
Easy to turn
Good results


Veneering Qualities
There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits
Moderately easy to veneer
Drying degrade is often moderate to severe, with collapse, buckles, and splilts
Diifficult to veneer


Steam Bending
Poor
Moderate
Very poor


Polishing
Satisfactory results
Good results
Poor results
Polishes to a smooth finish


Staining
Finish is generally satisfactory
Finish is generally good


Strength Properties
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Max. crushing strength = medium
Max. crushing strength = high
Hardness (side grain) = medium
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Hardness (side grain) = hard
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high
Bending strength (MOR) = high
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Hardness (side grain) = very hard
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Resists denting and marring
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high
Heavy
Hardness = medium
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high
Bending strength (MOR) = very high

Bending strength (MOR) = medium

Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1149416821psi
Crushing Strength10391205psi
Density48lbs/ft3
Hardness1809lbs
Impact Strength31inches
Maximum Crushing Strength58899056psi
Shearing Strength2089psi
Static Bending755611084psi
Stiffness186721351000 psi
Toughness183inch-lbs
Work to Maximum Load1216inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.630.76
Weight4949lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage7%
Volumetric Shrinkage14%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength8081182kg/cm2
Crushing Strength7384kg/cm2
Density769kg/m3
Hardness820kg
Impact Strength78cm
Maximum Crushing Strength414636kg/cm2
Shearing Strength146kg/cm2
Static Bending531779kg/cm2
Stiffness1311501000 kg/cm2
Toughness210cm-kg
Work to Maximum Load0.841.12cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.630.76
Weight785785kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage7%

References
Acosta-Solis, M.,1960,Maderas Economicas del Ecuador y sus Usos,Editorial Casa de la Culhra Ecuatoriana Quito

Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45

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

Bena, P.,1960,Essences Forestieres de Guyane,Bureau Agricole et Forestier Guyanais Guyana

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

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Brazier, J.D., Franklin, G.L.,1967,An Appraisal of the Wood Characteristics and Potential Uses of some,Nicaraguan Timbers,FAO for Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough

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

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World No.1 Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 3 Southern Asia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

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

CAOBA International, San Francisco, California. 1993. Personal Communication.

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

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

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

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

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1967,The Steam Bending Properties of various timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Leaflet,No.45

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38

France - C.T.F.T.,1973,Investigations and Tests carried out on Tropical Timber by several,Research Laboratories,CTFT

Highley, T.L., Scheffer, T.C.,1970,Natural Decay Resistance of 30 Peruvian Woods,U.S.A. Agriculture Department, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory,,Madison Research Paper,No.143

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

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

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

Lavers, G.M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.

Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50)

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

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

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

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

Marshall, R.C.,1939,Silviculture of the trees of Trinidad and Tobago - British West Indies,O.U.P.,London

Perpetua Hardwoods. Sea Star Trading Co. - Purveyors of Fine Wood. Newport, Oregon. Personal Communication, 1993.

Polak, A.M.,1992,Major Timber Trees of Guyana A Field Guide,The Tropenbos Foundation Wageningen, The Netherlands

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

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

Scheffer, T.C., Duncan, C.G.,1947,The Decay Resistance of certain Central American and Ecuadorian Woods,Tropical Woods,12(92, PP1-24

Smith, D.N.,1959,The Natural Durability of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Record,No.30

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

Tim Mahoney. Handloggers Hardwood Lumber, Larkspur, California. Personal Communication, 1993.

Timber Development Association Ltd.,1948,Notes on Ecuadorian Timbers,TRADA, Timber Information,35,pp5

Volkart, C.,1965,Recopilacion dedatos sobre propiedacies y usos maderos del Bosque Tropical,de las Costa Atlantica de Nicaragua,Turrialba,15(1, pp43-57

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

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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