Search for

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. Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Varnishing Scientific Name Coumarouna oleifera Trade Name Almendro Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Coumarouna panamensis, Dipteryx oleifera, Dipteryx panamensis Common Names Almendro, Barujo, Charapilla, Coumarouna, Cuamara, Cumaru, Cumaru amarello, Cunuru, Ebo, Gayac, Groot locus, Sarrapia, Tonga bean, Tonka bean Regions of Distribution Central America Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bearings & bushings, Boat building (general), Chemical derivatives, Fishing rods, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Turnery, Veneer: decorative Heartwood Color White Red Brown Sapwood Color Red White Grain Figure Interlocked Distinct (figure) Other (figure) Interlocked Other figure Distinct figure Texture Medium Fine Fine to medium Luster Slightly lustrous Lustrous Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Very durable Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Slight surface checking Slight end splitting No twisting or warping There is usually no degrade as a result of spring or bow No cupping, generally Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Moderate spring/bow Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Slowly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Boring Difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Gluing is often difficult Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Difficult to plane Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Difficult to machine Painting Poor to Very Poor Results Polishing Satisfactory results Varnishing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = very high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Bending strength (MOR) = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13576 20956 psi Hardness 2940 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 10035 13590 psi Shearing Strength 2312 psi Stiffness 2441 2838 1000 psi Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 954 1473 kg/cm2 Hardness 1333 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 705 955 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 162 kg/cm2 Stiffness 171 199 1000 kg/cm2 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Hess, R.W., Wangaard, F.F., Dickinson, F.E.,1950,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 2,Tropical Woods,13(97,pp1-132 Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Standley, P.C.,1928,Flora of the Panama Canal Zone,Smithsonian Institute. Contributions from the United States National,Herbarium Vol. 27 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., 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