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 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 Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Byrsonima coriacea Trade Name Serrette Family Name Malpighiaceae Common Names Barka locust, Barka-locust, Bois corne, Bois tan, Candelo, Candle berry, Changugo, Chaparro, Chaparro de chinche, Chupi cara, Chupi-cara, Craboo, Doncella, Golden spoon, Hicha, Hogberry, Holia, Hollyhock, Indana, Indana colorado, Indano, Indano colorado, Kanoaballi, Kwarie, Locus berry tree, Locust berry, Locust tree, Locust-berry, Locust-tree, Lotus berry tree, Manteco, Manteco de agua, Maricao, Maurice, Moeleri, Murecy, Murici, Nance, Nanche, Pau de corhime, Peralejo, Peralejo de pinar, Pessegueiro bravo, Pignio, Rosewood, Sarbana kwarie, Serret, Serrette, Tapal Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico [US], Trinidad and Tobago Common Uses Bedroom suites, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, General carpentry, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Plain veneer, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Structural plywood, Sub-flooring, Tables , Turnery, Utility furniture, Utility plywood, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Widespread May be rare in some parts of its range Globally secure Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. Data source is Nature Conservancy Species is generally secure throughout most of its range, although it may be quite rare in some areas, particularly along the periphery. Distribution Overview Throughout West Indies, Central America, Colombia, the Guianas, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. Common in secondary forests and frequently on lands degraded by farming. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Black Red Highly variable Orange Reddish brown Sapwood Color Green/Grey Yellow White Pink Brown Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Different than heartwood Reddish-brown Greyish Grain Straight Figure Other (figure) Interlocked Even Closed Wavy Stripe (figure) Straight Other figure Interlocked Wavy Striped figure Texture Fine Resinous and oily Fine Fine to medium Moderately fine Luster High Medium Lustrous Medium Natural Durability Very durable Durable Moderately durable Resistant to termites Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Slightly resistant to decay fungi and marine borers Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Non durable Moderately resistant to marine borer attack= Moderately durable Highly susceptible to attack by subterr. and dry wood termites Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste No odor, generally. Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 T6 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US Schedule E; United Kingdom Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Checking Slight surface checking Slight twist/warp Slight spring/bow Slight cupping Moderate twist/warp Moderate cupping Slight surface- and end-checks may occur Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Fairly Easy Little degrade Rapidly Medium to High Shrinkage Requires special attention Moderate Air-dries slow/moderate Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Typically unbutressed. Develops straight and cylindrical stem, clear of branches to 60-70 feet (18-21m) Comments Care required during nailing and screwing General finishing qualities are rated as good Splits easily Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on cutting tools is moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Easy Moderately easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Low resistance Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finishes well Moderately easy to mortise Good mortising properties Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding ease is moderate Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Medium Moderate dimensional stability can be attained after seasoning Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Poor to Very Poor Results Pre-boring recommended Possible if prebored Poor nailing properties Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Good planing properties Smooth surfaces attained easily Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is moderately treatable Heartwood is moderately treatable To increase penetration incising is encouraged Resistance to Splitting Very Poor Poor Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding qualities Easy to sand Screwing Pre-boring recommended Possible if prebored Poor results Difficult to screw Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Good results Easy to turn Good response to most hand tools and machines. Can be worked to a smooth surface in all operations. Steam Bending Variable steam bending qualities Moderate Polishing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Work to Maximum Load = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Toughness (total work) = low Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Species has very high bending strength, and is much stronger than Teak in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). It has superior properties in compression parallel to grain in the air-dry condition than Teak, White oak, or Hard maple. Hardness is rated as medium. It resists denting and marring about as well as white oak or birch. It is a heavy wood. The wood has high density. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 12721 19242 psi Density 46 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1611 lbs Impact Strength 27 28 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 6304 9754 psi Shearing Strength 2194 psi Stiffness 1673 2004 1000 psi Toughness 167 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 9 13 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.57 0.68 Weight 44 44 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 894 1352 kg/cm2 Density 737 kg/m3 Hardness 730 kg Impact Strength 68 71 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 443 685 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 154 kg/cm2 Stiffness 117 140 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 192 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.63 0.91 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.57 0.68 Weight 705 705 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers - The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods -Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory Lavers, G. M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50) 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 Longwood, F.R.,1961,Puerto Rican Woods - Their Machining Seasoning and Related Characteristics,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.205 Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Swabey, C.,1941,The Principal Timbers of Jamaica,Department of Science and Agriculture Jamaica Bulletin No.29 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 WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom. Williams, L. 1936. Woods of Northeastern Peru. Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series, Volume XV, Publication 377, Chicago.