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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 Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Caryocar glabrum Trade Name Piquia Family Name Caryocaraceae Synonyms Caryocar niciferum Common Names Agougagui, Almendro, Almendro de bajo, Almendron, Aquia-rana, Batsonari, Batsouari, Biqui, Butter nut, Cagui, Chawari, Cola bat's souari, Gladde sopp-ordoe sarawi, Huevo de burro, Jigua, Kassagnan, Koorbo, Piquia, Piquia bravo, Piquia da terra firme, Piquia roxo, Piquiarana, Piquiarana da terra, Piquiarana vermelha, Saouari, Sawari, Sawarie, Sopu oedoe, Souari nut Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname Common Uses Axles, Barge fenders, Beams, Boat building, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Harbor work, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Naval architecture, Office furniture, Railroad ties, Wheels Environmental Profile Status unknown in many of its growth areas Status unknown due to inadequate information Status has not been officially assessed May be rare in some parts of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Data source is Nature Conservancy The environmental status of this species is currently listed as unknown because of a lack of information in most areas within its range including, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam, and Venezuela. Species may be abundant and widespread in some areas of its range, but may be quite rare in other parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Very abundant in the Brazilian Amazon. Distribution Overview Primary humid forests of northern South America, on well-drained soils. Heartwood Color Brown White Yellow Black Red Green/grey Purple Orange Brown Yellowish tan White to cream Pale brown Greyish tint Sapwood Color Green/Grey Red Brown Yellow White White to yellow Color not distinct from heartwood Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Sapwood occasionally has dark or black streaks Grain Interlocked Even Straight Interlocked Straight Very fine and faintly distinct silver figure is occasionally present Texture Fine Medium Coarse Luster Slightly lustrous Lustrous Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Non-resistant to termites Non-durable Durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Resistant to termites Durable Very durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to marine borers Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack by dry-wood termites Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately resistant to attack by marine borers Heartwood resistant to attack by white rot and brown rot fungi Odor Seasoned wood has no characteristic odor or taste Faint odor of vinegar in green material Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Checking Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Checking Case hardening may occur Ease of Drying Slowly Rapidly Little degrade if dried properly Difficult to season Carefully control drying conditions to minimize degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Naturally dries quickly Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter in the Amazon can reach 1.5 to 2 meters Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber from produced frequently but export is rather low. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect Moderate Severe effect Interlocked grain dulls cutting edges quickly Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Moderate to fairly difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Logs may have internal stresses Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Use special attention for best results Difficult to glue Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Not stable/prone to move Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Pre-Boring Recommended Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Special attention required Difficult to work Difficult to plane Difficult machining properties Interlocked grain may dull cutters rapidly. Difficult to attain smooth surfaces on radial surfaces Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Wood very resistant to preservative treatment Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Screwing Easy to screw Turning Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Veneering Qualities Difficult to veneer No drying degrade Suitable for peeling Suitable for peeling Diifficult to veneer Polishing Fair to Good Results Staining Poor to Very Poor Results Finish is generally satisfactory Special care required in most finishing operations Varnishing Satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Resists denting and marring Heavy Hardness (side grain) = soft Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength qualities of this species in the air-dry condition is very high, far superior to those of Mahogany. Compression strength parallel to grain in the air-dry condition is high. Teak, White oak, and Hard maple have high crushing strength. It is hard - harder than Teak, and does not marr or dent easily. The weight is very high. The wood is very dense Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13499 19440 psi Density 52 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1536 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6665 9279 psi Shearing Strength 1712 psi Stiffness 1913 2236 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.65 Weight 52 40 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 949 1366 kg/cm2 Density 833 kg/m3 Hardness 696 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 468 652 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 120 kg/cm2 Stiffness 134 157 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.65 Weight 833 641 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 %