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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 Corrosive Properties 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 Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Bombacopsis sepium Trade Name Pochote Family Name Bombacaceae Synonyms Bombacopsis fenderi, Bombacopsis fendleri, Bombacopsis jaris, Bombacopsis sepium, Bombax ceiba, Bombax fenderi, Bombax fendleri, Bombax nicoyense, Bombax quinata, Bombax quinatum, Pachira bracteolata, Pachira fendleri, Pochota vulgaris Common Names Caoba bastarda, Caoba bastardo, Cartageno, Cedre colorado, Cedrillo, Cedro colorado, Cedro dulce, Cedro espino, Cedro espinoso, Cedro macho, Cedro tolu, Ceiba, Ceiba colarado, Ceiba colorado, Ceiba del tolu, Ceiba macho, Ceiba roja, Ceiba tolua, Coton, Espinoso, Habilla, Habilla colorado, Huimba, Jabillo, Jaris, Lanillo, Mahot coton, Masaguaro, Masgorana, Masgrana, Masguara, Murca, Murea, Murebe, Muree, Pochote, Red ceiba, Samauma, Saqui, Saqui-saqui, Squisqui, Sumauma, Sumauma de terra ferme, Sumauma de tierra firme, Tolu, Tolua, Yare Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Venezuela Common Uses Beams, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Decks, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Joists, Light construction, Matchboxes, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Packing cases, Paneling , Particleboard, Plywood, Poles, Porch columns, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Rough construction, Trimming, Turnery, Vats, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting Environmental Profile Status in wild unknown due to inadequate information Endangered within most of its growth range (and may soon be Extinct if adverse environmental practices persist) Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center This species is currently classified as Endangered within most of its natural growth range including Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela. Its status in the wild in Ecuador and Peru is listed as unknown because of inadequate information Distribution Overview reported to occor commonly in the more open forests of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. It is also found on the Atlantic side of Panama and in Colombia and Venezuela. abundant throughout its growth range, and thrives on mostly well-drained, often gravelly soils on the upper slopes of low hills and ridges Heartwood Color White Yellow Red Brown Green/grey Orange Reddish brown Pale red to pink Pale brown Red Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Uniform pale pink or pinkish brown when freshly cut Light to dark reddish-brown Darkens upon exposure Dark brown Sapwood Color Red Yellow White White to yellow Well defined Different than heartwood Yellowish Sharply demarcated from heartwood Grain Straight Interlocked Even Figure Rippled (figure) Straight Interlocked Straight to interlocked Rippled figure Figure shows rays Texture Coarse Medium Medium-Textured Fine Coarse Luster Medium Lustrous Pronounced Low Dull Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Resistant to attack from marine borers Perishable Non durable Vulnerable to attack by dry-wood and subterranean termites Very resistant to brown-rot fungi Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to white-rot fungi and brown-rot fungi Good resistance to marine borers Good resistance to marine borers in Panamanian waters Odor No specific odor May have a slight astringent taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Lighter Corrosive Properties Reacts with metals Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Slight surface checking Slight twist/warp Expect resin/gum exudation Slight end splitting No twisting or warping No cupping, generally Warping can be expected There is usually slight degrade as a result of spring or bow There is usually no degrade as a result of spring or bow Slightly checks during drying No end splitting Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Difficult Moderate No kiln-drying information Air dries slowly 8/4 stock took about a year to air-dry to 20% moisture content Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Bark width is 5-10 mm Tree height is 0-10 m Bole length is 0-10 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm The tree is described as medium sized. The tree is often buttressed, and boles are usually irregular. Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is a fairly important source of timber, and is exported in low quantities Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Slight blunting effect on cutting edges Boring Good boring qualitites Carving Good carving characteristics Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Low cutting resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Gluing Moderate gluing properties Glues well Mortising Good mortising properties Moulding Good moulding properties Movement in Service Stable Nailing Easy to nail Good nailing characteristics Planing Planes well, to a good finish Good planing properties Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Sapwood is permeable Sapwood is permeable Sapwood displays irregular chemical penetration Heartwood is extremely resistant Difficult to treat with presevatives Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Responds well to hand tools Sanding Very Good Sanding Properties Turning Turns well Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Difficult to veneer Easy to cut Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Good finishing characteristics Fairly good polishing characteristics Staining Good staining qualities Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Max. crushing strength = low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Work to Maximum Load = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Density (dry weight)=less than 15 lbs/cu.ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Weight = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric=very small Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate High in density Hardness = medium Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = very low The species has medium bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). It is closer in strength to Mahogany than either Teak or White oak, which have higher bending strength.It is lower in this property ( Compression strength parallel to grain, or maximum crushing strength)than Teak.It resists denting and marring about as well as white oak or birch Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6490 9794 psi Crushing Strength 549 725 psi Density 29 lbs/ft3 Hardness 734 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3393 5663 psi Shearing Strength 1061 psi Static Bending 4683 6843 psi Stiffness 1186 1365 1000 psi Toughness 101 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 7 8 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.44 0.48 Weight 28 24 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Volumetric Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 456 688 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 38 50 kg/cm2 Density 464 kg/m3 Hardness 332 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 238 398 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 74 kg/cm2