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. Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Luster Natural Durability Numerical Data References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Schefflera paraensis Trade Name Arbre de Saint-Jean Family Name Araliaceae Synonyms Schefflera decaphylla Common Names Arbre de Saint-Jean, Blunt leaf karohoro, Matchwood, Morototo, Parapara, Tobitoutou Regions of Distribution Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname Common Uses Boxes and crates, Canoes, Light construction, Matches, Musical instruments: percussion, Plywood corestock, Plywood Heartwood Color White Yellow Orange White to cream Greenish to greyish Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Brown Sapwood Color Same as heartwood Grain Straight Even Straight Texture Fine Fine to medium Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Non durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Veneering Qualities Good gluing qualities Suitable for peeling No steaming needed during bolt preparation. Easy to cut Drying degrade is moderate to severe, with collapse, buckles, and splits Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = low Bending strength (MOR) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 4310 6606 psi Density 29 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 2139 3916 psi Shearing Strength 882 psi Stiffness 1017 1199 1000 psi Weight 28 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 303 464 kg/cm2 Density 464 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 150 275 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 62 kg/cm2 Stiffness 71 84 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 448 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % 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 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 France - C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France Polak, A.M.,1992,Major Timber Trees of Guyana A Field Guide,The Tropenbos Foundation Wageningen, The Netherlands 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 Vink, A.T.,1965,Surinam Timbers,Surinam Forest Service Paramaribo,3rd rev. ed.