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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Myrospermum frutescens Trade Name Balsamito Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Balsamito, Balsamo, Balsamtree, Cereipo, Chiriquirin, Estoraque, Guatamere, Guayacan, Macagua, Macaguito, Muji negro, Palo de olor, Pardillo, Pui, Ramoncillo, Roble negro Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Railroad ties, Turnery Heartwood Color Purple Red Brown Purple Greenish to greyish Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Pink White to yellow Well defined Grain Even Straight Straight Texture Fine Fine Luster Medium Lustrous Pronounced Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to termites Moderately durable Very durable Non-resistant to marine borers Very durable Drying Defects Distortion Checking Splitting Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Nailing Poor to Very Poor Results Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Suitable for slicing Polishing Good results Numerical Data Item Green Dry English References Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press