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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. Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Drying Defects Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Luster Natural Durability Numerical Data References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Scientific Name Sapindus saponaria Trade Name Amole Family Name Sapindaceae Common Names Amole, Amole de bolita, Amolillo, Bibi, Bois canique, Bois savanette, Bolchiche, Boliche, Casita, Casita-ra, Chinaberry, Chirrion, Cholulo, Coyul, Devanador, Espingua, False dogwood, Graine canique, Guayul, Hualul, Iba-ro, Jabon-che, Jaboncillo, Luci, Ma-muho, Mata muchacho, Pacun, Palo blanco, Palo blanco amole, Palo de cuentas, Palo de voladillo, Palo jabon, Parapara, Pepo, Pibi, Pipal, Pipe, Pipi, Quillai, Saboeiro, Saboneteiro, Savonetier, Savonette, Savonette pays, Savonnier, Snot pu'pu, Soapberry, Soapberry tree, Soapseed, Sopo serie, Sullucu, Tehoitzli, Tehuistle, Tehuixtle, Tehuiztle, Tzatzupu, Wild China, Wild China berry, Wingleaf soapberrey, Wingleaf soapberry, Ximbi'p, Xoken-cab, Yaga-bia, Yaga-piaa, Yamole, Yamoli, Yamolli, Yequiti, Zapatero, Zihom, Zubul Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Argentina, Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, United States Common Uses Fuelwood, Joinery, Posts, Tool handles Heartwood Color Yellow Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Pale brown Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Same as heartwood Grain Even Straight Straight Texture Medium Coarse Medium Fine Fine to medium Luster Medium Slightly lustrous Natural Durability Durable Very durable Moderately durable Non durable Drying Defects Splitting Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Difficult to machine Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 52 lbs/ft3 Weight 51 41 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Density 833 kg/m3 References Celulosa Argentina,1973,Libro del Arbol,Celulosa Argentina Buenos Aires 3 Vols Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara Little, E.L., Wadsworth, F.H.,1964,Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.249 Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98 Marshall, R.C.,1934,Trees of Trinidad and Tobago,Government Printer Port of Spain Trinidad Marshall, R.C.,1939,Silviculture of the trees of Trinidad and Tobago - British West Indies,O.U.P.,London Pennington, T.D., Sarukhan, J.,1968,Manual para la Identificacion de campo de los Principales Arboles,Tropicales de Mexico,Inst. Nac. Inv. For. Mexico Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Record, S.J.,1927,Trees of Honduras,Tropical Woods,10, pp10-47 Swabey, C.,1941,The Principal Timbers of Jamaica,Department of Science and Agriculture Jamaica Bulletin No.29 Tortorelli, L.,1956,Maderas y Bosques Argentinos,Editorial Acme S.A.C.I. Buenos Aires