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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Byrsonima spicata Trade Name Serrette Family Name Malpighiaceae Common Names Bois tan, Bois-charbon, Came de doncella, Candelo, Changugo, Chaparro, Chapi-cara, Golden spoon, Hicha, Hitchia, Honeyberry, Kanoaballi, Maricap, Mauricif, Murici, Peralgo de monte, Sangre de doncella, Serrette Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Cabinetmaking, Charcoal, Factory flooring, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Plywood, Poles, Railroad ties, Turnery Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview West Indies and Central America, common in the Peru uplands at an altitude of 1500 to 3500 feet (457 to 1067 m). Thrives on sandy or dry medium loamy soils among shrubs and low trees of secondary growth. Heartwood Color Brown Purple Red Pink Pale brown Reddish brown Brown Red Purple Pale red to pink Greenish to greyish Dark brown Heartwood May have a grayish tint and black streaks. Sapwood Color Pinkish-brown Color not distinct from heartwood Clearly differentiated from the heartwood The wide sapwood is pale pinkish-brown, sometimes almost white. Grain Interlocked Figure Straight Closed Even Stripe (figure) Growth rings (figure) Other (figure) Wavy Interlocked Striped figure Straight Wavy Other figure Occasionally interlocked, but not always Generally straight, but not always Clear growth rings (figure) Quartered surfaces are reported to exhibit a fine roey or striped figure. Flat-sawn surfaces are rather plain in appearance. Texture Medium Coarse Fine to medium Fine Moderately fine Medium Luster Lustrous Dull Natural Durability Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately durable Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to dry-wood termites in some areas Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Heartwood susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Durable Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Dry at a slow speed Schedule E (4/4) United Kingdom Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Slight surface checking Severe end splitting Severe cupping Moderate twist/warp Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Ease of Drying Thinner boards (under 1 inch) dry slowly Thicker dimension stock is more difficult to dry Moderate Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Termite attack common in larger trees. Tend to split severly when felled. Substitutes Balearic boxwood (B. balearica ), and Cape boxwood (B. macowani ), both from South Africa. Also Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Serrette is slightly stronger than European beech (Fagus ). Unsuitable for plywood manufacture Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate The wood has moderate dulling effect on tool edges. Boring Wood can char during boring operations Cutting Resistance Satisfactory sawing properties Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Movement in Service Medium Nailing Pre-boring recommended Planing Good planing properties Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Screwing Possible if prebored Difficult to screw Veneering Qualities No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Diifficult to veneer Steam Bending Variable steam bending qualities Moderate Recommended for bends of only moderate radius of curviture Strength Properties Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 46-52 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). Maximum crushing strength, or compression parallel to grain in the air-dry condition, is in the very high range. It is stronger than Hard maple, White oak, or Teak. It is moderately hard and resistant to wearing and marring. It is a heavy wood. The wood has high density. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11415 17285 psi Density 49 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1543 lbs Impact Strength 27 29 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5985 9392 psi Shearing Strength 2195 psi Stiffness 1684 2018 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 10 15 inch-lbs/in3 Weight 47 46 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 802 1215 kg/cm2 Density 785 kg/m3 Hardness 699 kg Impact Strength 68 73 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 420 660 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 154 kg/cm2 Stiffness 118 141 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.70 1.05 cm-kg/cm3 Weight 753 737 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % References Brooks, R.L., et al,1941,Durability tests on Untreated Timbers in Trinidad,Caribbean Forester,2(3,pp101-119 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 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38 Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara 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. I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting Lavers, G.M. 1967. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50 (Spersedes Bulletin No. 45). 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) 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 Record, S.J., Mell, C.D.,1924,Timbers of Tropical America,Yale Univ. Press Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Williams, L. 1936. Woods of Northeastern Peru. Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series, Volume XV, Publication 377, Chicago.