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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 Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Vochysia guianensis Trade Name Yemeri Family Name Vochysiaceae Synonyms Vochysia melinonii, Vochysia paraensis, Cucullaria excelsa Common Names Achiwa, Anani, Barba-chole, Barbachele, Barbara chele, Bois cruseau, Cambara, Cedro rana, Cedro-rana, Cedrorana, Chewstick, Chimbuya, Corosillo, Grignon fou, Iteballi, Iteballi korero, Iterballi, Killu sisa, Kilu-sisa, Kouali, Kwari, Manil, Manni, Mayo, Moutende, Moutende kouali, Palo de chancho, Plumero, Prefontain, Quaruba, Red kwarie, Rhode kwari, San Juan de pozo, San Juan roso, Tintin, Wana-kwari, Wanakwari, Wanekwalie, Wiswiskwari, Wossie Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Honduras, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, General carpentry, Hatracks, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Paneling , Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stools, Tables , Utility furniture, Veneer, Wainscotting, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Vulnerable Extinct Endangered Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Several species in the genus Vochysia are distributed throughout tropical America, from southern Mexico to Peru, and are most abundant in the Guianas and Brazil. They are reported to form nearly pure stands on abandoned farmlands, and attain their best development on coastal plains and along waterways. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Red Orange Pale red to pink Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Dark brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Red White to yellow Well defined Pale pink Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Interlocked Figure Stripe (figure) Even Rippled (figure) Straight Interlocked Striped figure Rippled figure Quartersawn lumber without gum ducts has an attractive appearance and may be suitable for the manufacture of less expensive grade furniture. Texture Fine Medium Medium to coarse Moderately coarse Coarse Luster Medium High Lustrous Golden luster Natural Growth Defects Vertical gum ducts are seen as a defect in some applications Natural Durability Perishable Very durable Non-durable Sapwood non-resistant to furniture beetles Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately durable Very little natural resistance Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to attack by fungi and termites Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules T2 - D4 (4/4); T2 - D3 (8/4) US Schedule A (4/4) United Kingdom Dry at a slow speed Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Moderate twist/warp Slight end splitting Slight collapse and honeycomb No end splitting should be expected Moderate surface checking Moderate cupping Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Moderately Difficult to Difficult Little degrade Moderate Difficult Dries slowly Dries at a moderate rate with little degrade. Dries at a fairly rapid rate Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 0-10 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 0-10 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber and rates as a fairly important export. Vochysia timbers are used for the same purposes as those produced by the genus Qualea, and the two genera are often referred to by the same vernacular name in some areas. Substitutes Spanish Cedar Comments Can be used for utility plywood, drawer bottoms, and panels, low resistance to decay General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Slight effect Boring Fairly easy to very easy Satisfactory properties Carving Fair to Good Results Good results Easy to carve Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting resistance is variable Gluing Easy to glue Good properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good mortising properties Finishes well Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good moulding properties Nailing Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes to a poor finish Planing and other machining operations are easy. The timbers respond well to machine tools, although there may be some raised grain and woolly surfaces. Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Absorption and retention of preservatives in both heartwood and sapwood are very good Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Difficult to machine Easy to machine Works readily with handtools Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Routing is easy Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory sanding results Good sanding finish Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Poor results Responds well Veneering Qualities Drying degrade is often moderate to severe, with collapse, buckles, and splilts Diifficult to veneer Steam Bending Moderate Painting Good results Satisfactory results Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Staining Stains well Finish is generally satisfactory Water-Based stains should be avoided since they tend to raise the grain Strength Properties Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Hardness (side grain) = very soft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7350 11904 psi Crushing Strength 392 519 psi Density 36 lbs/ft3 Hardness 711 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 2984 5613 psi Shearing Strength 940 psi Static Bending 3891 6007 psi Stiffness 1251 1461 1000 psi Toughness 95 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 5 6 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.46 0.52 Weight 38 33 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 516 836 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 27 36 kg/cm2 Density 576 kg/m3 Hardness 322 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 209 394 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 66 kg/cm2 Static Bending 273 422 kg/cm2 Stiffness 87 102 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 109 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.35 0.42 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.46 0.52 Weight 608 528 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % References 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 Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,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. Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department France - C.T.F.T.,1973,Investigations and Tests carried out on Tropical Timber by several,Research Laboratories,CTFT Hess, R.W., Wangaard, F.F., Dickinson, F.E.,1950,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 2,Tropical Woods,13(97,pp1-132 HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer, Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. 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 International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) 1991. Pre-project Study on the Conservation Status of Tropical Timbers in Trade. Reported by the World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC, Cambridge, London. ITTO. 1988. Amazonian Timbers for the International Market. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) Technical Series 1. Compiled by Teixeira, D.E., M.A.E. Santana, and M. Rabelo de Souza. Longwood, F.R.,1961,Puerto Rican Woods - Their Machining Seasoning and Related Characteristics,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.205 Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207 Loureiro, A.A., Freitas da Silva, M.,1968,Catalogo das Madeiras da Amazonia (2 vols,Min. do Ultramar Belem Brasil 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. Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T 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 Vink, A.T.,1965,Surinam Timbers,Surinam Forest Service Paramaribo,3rd rev. ed. 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