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. Blunting Effect Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Tabernaemontana citrifolia Trade Name Azaharito Family Name Apocynaceae Common Names Azaharito, Berracho, Bois lait, Bois laite male, Buril, Chanchito de flores blancas, Cojon de mico, Cojon de verraco, Huevo de cochino, Huevo de gallo, Lechero, Lechoso, Palo de leche, Palo de leche macho, Pegojo, Pequerete, Verraco Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Venezuela Common Uses Charcoal, Fuelwood Heartwood Color Red Brown Pink Purple Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Sapwood Color Pink White Yellow Grain Straight Figure Distinct (figure) Interlocked Wavy Even Figure Even Straight Other (figure) Medium Fine Luster Medium High Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to marine borers Perishable Non durable Toxicity Some toxic effects Unspecified toxicity Drying Defects Splitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Naturally dries quickly Naturally dries at a moderate speed Tree Size Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 60-70 m Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm Trunk diameter is 300-350 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Boring Fairly easy to very easy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Painting Fair to Good Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Staining Fair to Good Results Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Numerical Data Item Green Dry English References Caribbean Commission,1952,Information on properties of timbers gathered by questionnaire and,collated in the secretariat of the Caribbean Commission including some,related data from technical literature.,Caribbean Commission, Port of Spain, Trinidad Caribbean Timbers, their,Utilization and Trade within the area CTUTA/1/Doc.7 + App.1-18 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 Schiffino, J.,1945,Riqueza Forestal Dominicana (Three volumes,Secretaria de Estado de Agric. Ind. y Trabajo Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13