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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 Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Bulnesia arborea Trade Name Verawood Family Name Zygophyllaceae Synonyms Guaiacum arboreum Common Names Bera, Bera cuchivaro, Berra, Congo cypress, Cuchivaro, Guayac de caracas, Guayacan, Guayacan de bola, Guayacan polvillo, Guayacan resino, Maracaibo, Maracaibo lignum vitae, Maracaibo lignum-vitae, Palo sano, Venesia, Vera, Vera aceituna, Vera amarilla, Vera azul, Vera blanca, Vera pocktree, Veraholz, Verawood Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Venezuela Common Uses Bearings & bushings, Boat building (general), Brush backs & handles, Crossties, Heavy construction, Light construction, Machinery parts, Poles, Pulley wheels, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Turnery Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Coastal region of Colombia and Venezuela, common on the dry foothills between Porto Cabello and Lake Maracaibo. Heartwood Color Red Purple Greenish to greyish Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Light olive green Golden brown with a reddish cast Dark green upon exposure Dark brown The heartwood varies in color from light olive green to chocolate brown, with the surface of the wood often turning dark green on exposure Sapwood Color Pink White to yellow Paler than heartwood Pale yellow Grain Figure Crossed Interlocked Other (figure) Stripe (figure) Striped figure Other figure Interlocked Crossed Texture Medium Coarse Fine Very fine The wood is resinous, and has an oily appearance and feel. Luster Medium Low Natural Durability Very durable Durable Moderately durable Resistant to termites Very durable Untreated wood in contact with ground is very resistant to decay It is reported to outlast most treated timbers when used as piling and fence posts. Odor Has an odor Mild odor when warmed Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Splitting Checking Moderate end spitting Shakes Expect splits Ease of Drying Dries slowly with careful attention needed It requires careful attention because of its high density and resinous nature Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is less than 10 m It occasionally attains heights of 100 feet (30 m), but it is typically 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 m), Product Sources Verawood occurs in small numbers and is becoming even rarer, which makes it very expensive. The species also grows very slowly, and requires centuries to mature. Comments Generally very strong , very heavy, highly rigid, high resistance, self-lubricating Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing is severe Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe The wood is very high in density and may have severe blunting effect on cutting tools Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Difficult to saw Very high density and cross-grain combine to make seasoned wood very difficult to process. Gluing Impossible to glue Resists all types of adhesives Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Ease of planing is moderate Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Very good Good results Wood should be well seasoned before turning since it may twist and check after the work is completed. Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Polishing Satisfactory results Staining Difficult to stain. Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = > 75 lbs/cu.ft. Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. Density = high Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu.ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 71 lbs/ft3 Specific Gravity 0.92 Weight 62 56 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Density 1137 kg/m3 Specific Gravity 0.92 References Arno, J. 1992. Bulnesia arborea - Verawood. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World, Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 72-73. Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Chichignoud, M., G. Deon, P. Detienne, B. Parant and P. Vantomme. 1990. Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne, CEDEX, France. Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Cronquist, A.,1957,Las Zygophyllaceas Venezolanas,Bull. Jard. Bot. Bruxelles,27(3,pp381-9 Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Record, S.J., Mell, C.D.,1924,Timbers of Tropical America,Yale Univ. Press Record, S.J.,1921,A Study of the Woods of the Zygophyllaceae with reference to the True,Lignum vitae of Commerce - its sources, properties, uses and substitutes,Yale University School of Forestry Bulletin,No.6 Timber Development Association,1943,Timber Leaflet no. 86 Lignum Vitae,TRADA Timber leaflet Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA] WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.