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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. Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Himatanthus articulata Trade Name Balata blanc Family Name Apocynaceae Synonyms Plumeria articulata, Plumeria drastica Common Names Balata blanc, Bellaco-caspi, Carabina, Cipoal, Janahuba, Leche-leche, Leon, Malongo, Mapolo, Molongo, Perillo blanco, Sucuuba, Sucuuba rana, Wild jasmine Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Venezuela Common Uses Boxes and crates, Chemical derivatives, Food containers, Furniture, Heavy construction, Light construction, Particleboard, Plywood, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Red Orange Green/grey Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Paler than heartwood Grain Straight Even Straight Texture Coarse Medium Medium Fine to medium Luster Medium High Lustrous Dull Natural Durability Very durable Durable Perishable Non-durable Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Slight end splitting Ease of Drying Easy Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 0-10 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Mortising Easy to mortise Moulding Easy to mould Planing Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Easy to machine Turning Easy to turn Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = soft Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = very small Max. crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Bending strength (MOR) = low Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9463 14768 psi Hardness 995 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5706 8526 psi Shearing Strength 1560 psi Stiffness 1511 1745 1000 psi Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 665 1038 kg/cm2 Hardness 451 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 401 599 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 109 kg/cm2 Stiffness 106 122 1000 kg/cm2 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Falla Ramirez, A.,1971,Resultados de los estudios Fisico-Mecanicos de 41 especies Maderables de,la,region Carare-Opon. (Results of studies of the physical and mechanical,properties of 41 timber species of the Carare-Opon region.,Inst. de Desarrollo de los Recursos Naturales Renovables. Div. For.,Pleagble Divulgativo, Inderena Colombia,pp6 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 Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press 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 Venezuela-Laboratories Nacional de Productos Forestates,1974,Caraderisticas, Propiedades y usos de 104 Maderas de los allos Ilanos,occidentales,Min. Ag. y Cria, Universidad de Los andes, Merida, Venezuela Lab.Nac. de,Prod. For. Villamil, F.G.,1971,Maderas Colombianas,Proexpo Colombia