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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 Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Plantation species? Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Cedrela odorata Trade Name Central American cedar Family Name Meliaceae Synonyms Cedrela mexicana Common Names Acajou rouge, Akuyari, Atoreb, Brazilian cedar, British Guiana cedar, British Honduras cedar, Cedar, Cedre rouge, Cedrela, Cedrela wood, Cedro, Cedro chino, Cedro hembra, Cedro macho, Cedro obscuro, Cedro oloroso, Cedro red, Cedro rojo, Central American cedar, Chujte, Cigar box cedar, Cigarbox cedar, Colorado cedro, Cuban cedar, Epi, Guyana cedar, Honduras cedar, Icte, Jamaican cedar, Kalantas, Kapere, Koperi, Kurama, Kurana, Mexican cedar, Nicaraguan cedar, Parank, Paranka, Red cedar, Rojas cedar, Rosas cedar, South American cedar, Spanish cedar, Tabasco cedar, Tiocuahuitl, Trinidad cedar, Tropical cedar, West Indian cedar Plantation species? Yes Regions of Distribution Africa, Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadelope [France], Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico [US], Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Balusters, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Cigar boxes, Coffins, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drawing boards, Drum sticks, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Office furniture, Paneling , Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Shingles, Sills, Sporting Goods, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Widespread Generally secure within its natural habitat Extinct, Endangered, Rare, or Vulnerable within some parts of its original range. Environmental status not officially assessed Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant Distribution Overview Cedro hembra (Cedrela odorata) is the most commercially important and widely distributed species in the genus Cedrela. Known as Spanish-cedar in English commerce, the aromatic wood is in high demand in the American tropics because it is naturally termite- and rot-resistant. Cedro is widespread but never very common throughout moist tropical American forests; its numbers are continuing to be reduced by exploitation without successful regeneration. Cedro is a tree of the New World tropics, appearing in forests of moist and seasonally dry Subtropical or Tropical life zones (24) from latitude 26° N. on the Pacific coast of Mexico, throughout Central America and the West Indies, to the lowlands and foothills of most of South America up to 1200 m (about 4,000 ft) altitude, finding its southern limit at about latitude 28° S. in Argentina. Cedro is always found naturally on well-drained soils, often but not exclusively on limestone; it tolerates a long dry season but does not flourish in areas of rainfall greater than about 3000 mm (120 in) or on sites with heavy or waterlogged soils. Individual trees are generally scattered in mixed semievergreen or semi-deciduous forests dominated by other species Heartwood Color White Yellow Orange Green/grey Brown Red Reddish brown Pale red to pink Dark brown Red Purple Dark brown Brown The heartwood usually darkens upon exposure. Timber from younger or fast-grown trees is generally paler in color Sapwood Color White Yellow Red White to yellow Well defined Pinkish Paler than heartwood Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Figure Growth rings (figure) Interlocked Even Distinct (figure) Very fine Mottled (figure) Weak (figure) Straight Clear growth rings (figure) Interlocked Weak figure Mottled figure Interlocked shallowly Figure occurrence is very fine and distinct Distinct figure Texture Fine Medium Even or uniform Medium Medium to coarse Coarse Fine Fine to medium Luster Medium High Lustrous Slightly lustrous Medium Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin streaks Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Non-durable Durable Moderately durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Pinworm (ambrosia beetle) attack may occur in the heartwood Very high natural resistance Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Non durable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Odor Natural oil in the wood gives off a distinctive fragrant scent. Silica Content Siliceous Toxicity Some toxic effects Sawdust can cause throat irritation in some individuals Sawdust can cause nose irritation in some individuals Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Gum and oil exudation in service can be controlled by heating the timber at 200 degrees F. at 60% relative humidity for 8 to 17 hours Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Discoloration Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Slight collapse and honeycomb Slight twist/warp No twisting or warping No surface checking Slight spring/bow Slight cupping No collapse/honeycomb Moderate end spitting Moderate collapse and honeycombing Generally free from spring and bow Expect severe degrade due to knots, splits, and loosening Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Collapse Ease of Drying Slowly Thick Stock Requires Care Rapidly Moderately Difficult to Difficult Requires special attention Easy Dries at a fairly rapid rate Air dries and kiln dries slowly with minimal degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Drying rate is slow Slow Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Naturally dries at a moderate speed 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 buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 30-40 m Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 10-20 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that a very important source of timber. The timber is exported regularly, especially as square-edged timber and veneer. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Timber produced by most species in the genus Cedrela are reported to contain volatile oils which tend to limit their uses. Timber from young or fast-grown trees is generally less resinous than that from mature or more slowly-grown trees Blunting Effect Moderate Little Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on sawing green wood is mild Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Difficult Easy Carving Easy to carve Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy The timber responds satisfactorily to cross-cutting and bandsawing Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue May require surface treatment for best results Glues well Mortising Finishes well Good mortising properties Finishes satisfactorily Finishes poorly Easy to mortise Moulding Good finishing results Excellent moulding properties Easy to mould A French head is reported to produce the most satisfactory moulding results Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Small Stable Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to nail Holds nails well Satisfactory nailing properties Pre-boring recommended Nails hold poorly Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane A good finish can be obtained in planing if cutting angles are reduced to 20 degrees Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood