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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 Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting 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 Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Virola surinamensis Trade Name Light virola Family Name Myristicaceae Synonyms Myristica fatua, Myristica sebifera, Myristica surinamensis, Nux Moschata, Virola mycetis Common Names Anakin, Andiroba, Baboen, Baboenhout, Baboenoedoe, Baboon, Baboonhout, Baboonwood, Babun, Banak, Becuiba, Bicuhyba, Bogamani, Bucuiba, Cajuca, Cajuea, Camala, Camaticaro, Cebo, Cedrillo, Chaliviande, Chalviande, Couaie, Cuajo, Cumala, Dalli, Dallie, Dollywood, Guingamadou, Guinguamadou, Irikwa, Kilikowa, Light virola, Mandalli, Moonba, Moulomba, Moussigot, Muscadier a grive, Nuanamo, Nutlet, Palo de Sangre, Pintri, Quinquamadou, Sangre, Sangre Colorado, Sangrino, Sebo, Shempo, Swamp dalli, Ucuhuba, Ucuuba, Ucuuba branca, Virola, Waroesi, We, Wild nutmeg, Y. Marccage., Yamadou, Yamamadou, Yayamadou de marecage, Yayamadou marecage Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Netherlands, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Beams, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Cigar boxes, Coffins, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Decks, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Food containers, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Matchboxes, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Posts, Veneer Environmental Profile Status unknown in many of its growth areas Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Considered vulnerable in its natural habitat because its numbers are threatened by serious adverse factors throughout its range. However, the species likely exists today in relatively large numbers. Distribution Overview The genus Virola consists of about 38 small to large trees that are common in the mixed hardwood forests of Central and South America. The species are distributed from Belize and Guatemala southward to Venezuela, the Guianas, the Amazon region of northern Brazil, southern Brazil as well as on the Pacific Coast, to Peru and Bolivia. The most widely distributed of the species, V. surinamensis , occurs in some of the Lesser Antilles, Trinidad, the Guianas, southern Venezuela, and parts of Brazil. Heartwood Color Yellow Brown Pale brown White to cream Pale red to pink Reddish brown Pinkish brown Greenish to greyish Golden brown with a reddish cast Sapwood Color Color not distinct from heartwood Paler than heartwood Grain Straight Even Figure Weak (figure) Straight Weak figure Texture Fine Medium Medium to coarse Medium Fine to medium Coarse Luster High Lustrous Slightly lustrous Medium Low Natural Durability Durable Moderately durable Non durable Non durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Perishable Perishable Susceptible to marine borer attack Heartwood susceptible to attack by decay fungi Logs need prompt extraction and conversion or water storage to avoid degrade by pinhole borers. Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules UK=D US=T3D2/T3C1 T3 - C2 (4/4); T3 - C1 (8/4) US Schedule C (4/4) United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Checking Moderate end spitting Moderate collapse and honeycombing No surface checking Slight spring/bow No end splitting should be expected No cupping, generally Moderate surface checking Moderate cupping Collapse Checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Easy Moderate Difficult Dries well under good controlled conditions Dries slowly Kiln Drying Rate Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) 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 cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is a very important source of timber for export. The timber is imported from Brazil into United States, Eastern Europe, Japan, Venezuela, and Canada. The large quantities of Ucuhuba seeds exported from the Para State in Brazil are produced by V. surinamensis . Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as poor Red bark contains red sap lflows like blood Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Easy Respond readily to ordinary machine tools in boring operations Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to carve Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw Gluing Easy to glue Good properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Good mortising properties Easy to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good moulding properties Easy to mould Cleaned smoothly Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Medium Nailing Easy to nail Holds nails well Resists splitting Holds satisfactorily Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Yields a clean surface Planes well, to a good finish Planes to a smooth surface Planes to a poor finish Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is permeable Preservative absorption in the heartwood is adequate Resistance to Splitting Good Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Easy to machine Works readily with handtools Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Recess without difficulty Sanding Yields smooth, clean surfaces Screwing Easy to screw Good screwing properties Good screw holding properties Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Good results Some grain pick-up may occur, but can be dressed smoothly Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Poor Buckle severely when compressed Painting Satisfactory results Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Stains well Finish is generally good Varnishing Satisfactory Good results Strength Properties Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = large Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = high High density Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5533 9453 psi Crushing Strength 195 265 psi Density 33 lbs/ft3 Hardness 541 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 2401 4603 psi Shearing Strength 940 psi Stiffness 1520 1832 1000 psi Toughness 60 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 4 8 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.41 0.51 Weight 35 31 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 389 664 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 13 18 kg/cm2 Density 528 kg/m3 Hardness 245 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 168 323 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 66 kg/cm2 Stiffness 106 128 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 69 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.28 0.56 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.41 0.51 Weight 560 496 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage