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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
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Chlorophora tinctoria

Trade Name
Fustic

Family Name
Moraceae

Synonyms
Maclura tinctoria


Wood Image 1

Common Names
Amarello, Amarelo, Amarillo, Amoeira, Amoreira branca, Auroeira, Avinge, Avinje, Barossa, Boid d'orange, Bois d'orange, Bois jaune, Brasil, Brasil palo amarillo, Cuba wood, Dinde, Dyers mulberry, Dyewood, Escambron de madera, Espinheiro branco, Fiselholz, Fresno de America, Fustetto, Fustic, Fustic mulberry, Fustic wood, Geelhout, Gelbholz, Insira caspi, Jataiba, Jocomico, Legno giallo, Limarona, Mora, Mora amarilla, Mora amarillo, Mora insira, Moral, Moral fino, Moral fustete, Moratana, Moreira, Morita, Odumbaum, Palo amarillo, Palo de mora, Palo naranjo, Palo negro, Palomoro, Pau amarello, Pau amarelo, Red fustic, Runa, Taiuva, Tajuba, Tatajiba, Tatajuba, Tatajuba-de-espinho, Tatane tauba, Tatayiba, Tatayivasaiyu, Tatayivásaiyú, Tatayuba, Tatayva, Touvo, Toyuba, Tustete, Tustic, Yellow wood

Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Argentina, Bahamas, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chemical derivatives, Chests, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Piling, Planks, Poles, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shafts/Handles, Shipbuilding, Stools, Structural work, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Wharf construction, Wheel spokes, Wheels

Environmental Profile
Vulnerable
Rare
Status unknown in many of its growth areas
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center

Listed as unknown due to lack of information in most areas within its range including, the Caribbean Islands, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Guadelope, Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela

Distribution Overview
Widely distributed throughout tropical America. A northern form is found in coastal lowlands of southern Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and northern South America. A southern form is found in Misiones (Argentina), Paraguay and southern Brazil, but nowhere abundant.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Red
Yellow
Orange
Purple
Black
Pink
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Reddish brown
Pale brown
Darkens with age
Dark brown
Contains dark streaks
Brown


Sapwood Color
Yellow
White
White to yellow
Well defined
Grayish cast
Dark streaks


Grain
Figure
Straight
Other (figure)
Even
Interlocked
Closed
Wavy
Stripe (figure)
Crossed

Straight
Other figure
Wavy
Striped figure
Interlocked
Crossed


Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Fine
Medium
Medium to coarse
Fine to medium


Luster
High
Medium
Pronounced
Lustrous
High


Natural Durability
Non-durable
Durable
Very durable
Perishable
Resistant to termites
Non-resistant to marine borers
Non-resistant to termites
Susceptible to insect attack
Durable
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Very durable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Moderate weathering properties
Heartwood has very high natural resistnace to decay and other wood destroying organisms


Odor
Has an odor


Light-Induced Color Change
Darker


Toxicity
Unspecified toxicity


Kiln Schedules
Dry at a moderate speed
Drying (speed) is fast
Dry at a slow speed


Drying Defects
Checking
Collapse
Distortion
Internal Honeycombing Possible
Slight surface checking
Slight twist/warp
Slight end splitting
No twisting or warping
Slight spring/bow
No cupping, generally
Moderate twist/warp
Moderate surface checking


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Reconditioning Treatement
Requires special attention
Easy
Difficult
Moderate
Dries slowly


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries quickly


Tree Size
Bole length is 0-10 m
Tree height is 20-30 m
Bole length is 10-20 m
Sapwood width is 5-10 cm
Tree height is 40-50 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm


Product Sources
The ITTO reports that timber production from the species is low. Export potential is rated as fair.

Apart from timber, the tree is economically valuable as the source of fustic, one of the most important commercial dye-woods. It yields a coloring compound called maclurin which used for the production of brown, yellow, and green dyes, especially for the olive-drab khaki. Its use dates back to the middle of the seventeenth century.

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Little
Blunting effect on machining is severe
Slight
Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe
Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe


Boring
Fair to good results
Poor


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Poor results


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Moderate to saw
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to glue
Moderate gluing properties
Glues well


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Difficult to mortise


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Difficult to mould


Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
Stable
Small


Nailing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Satisfactory nailing properties


Planing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Easy to plane
Ease of planing is moderate
Difficult to plane


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Heartwood is highly resistant
Sapwood is moderately resistant
Heartwood is resistant


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Responds Readily
Difficult to machine
Easy to machine
Moderate working qualities


Routing & Recessing
Fair to Good Results
Routing is difficult


Sanding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Difficult to sand


Screwing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Satisfactory screwing properties


Turning
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to turn
Difficult to turn


Veneering Qualities
Suitable for peeling
Suitable for slicing
Veneers easily
Veneers moderately easy
Diifficult to veneer


Steam Bending
Moderate
Poor
Good


Painting
Satisfactory results


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Satisfactory results
Good results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Finish is generally satisfactory


Varnishing
Satisfactory


Strength Properties
Bending strength (MOR) = high
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Max. crushing strength = high
Hardness (side grain) = hard
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Max. crushing strength = very high
Shrinkage, Volumetric = very small
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = very high
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high
Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high
Shrinkage, Volumetric = small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high
Hardness (side grain) = very hard
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Very heavy
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Resists denting and marring
Density = very high
Bending strength (MOR) = medium


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1630921728psi
Crushing Strength17641901psi
Density55lbs/ft3
Hardness2421lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength822911474psi
Shearing Strength2326psi
Static Bending913414132psi
Stiffness186521821000 psi
Toughness224inch-lbs
Work to Maximum Load1417inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.660.84
Weight5543lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage5%
Volumetric Shrinkage7%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength11461527kg/cm2
Crushing Strength124133kg/cm2
Density881kg/m3
Hardness1098kg
Maximum Crushing Strength578806kg/cm2
Shearing Strength163kg/cm2
Static Bending642993kg/cm2
Stiffness1311531000 kg/cm2
Toughness258cm-kg
Work to Maximum Load0.981.19cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.660.84
Weight881689kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage5%

References
Acosta-Solis, M.,1960,Maderas Economicas del Ecuador y sus Usos,Editorial Casa de la Culhra Ecuatoriana Quito

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

Brazier, J.D., Franklin, G.L.,1967,An Appraisal of the Wood Characteristics and Potential Uses of some,Nicaraguan Timbers,FAO for Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 9 Central America and the Caribbean,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.

Constantine, Jr., A. J. 1959. Know Your Woods - A Complete Guide to Trees, Woods, and Veneers. Revised Edition. Revised by H.J. Hobbs. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.

Edmondson, C.H.,1949,Reaction of Woods from S.America and Caribbean areas to Marine Borers in,Hawaiian Waters,Caribbean Foresters,10(1,PP37-41

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

Flores Rodriguez, L.J.,1969,Description Caracteristicas y usos de 25 Maderas tropicales,Mexicanas,Camera Nacional de la Industria de la Construccion Serie Maderas de Mexico

Fors, A.J.,1949,Maderas Industriales de Colombia,Caribbean Forester,10(3,pp161-96

Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara

Hess, R.W., Wangaard, F.F., Dickinson, F.E.,1950,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 2,Tropical Woods,13(97,pp1-132

Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.

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

Lamb, A.F.A., Wangaard, F.F.,1950,The Gluing Properties of certain Tropical American Woods,Yale Univ. School of Forestry Technical Report,4

Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.

Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98

Loureiro, A.A., Freitas da Silva, M.,1968,Catalogo das Madeiras da Amazonia (2 vols,Min. do Ultramar Belem Brasil

Mainieri, C., Pereira, J.A.,1965,Madeiras do Brasil,Anuario Brasileiro de Economia Florestal,17(17,PP135-416

Mainieri, C.,1978,Fichas de Caracteristicas das Madeiras Brasileiras,Inst. Pesquisas Technologicas

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., Hess, R.W.,1940,American Woods of the Family Moraceae,Tropical Woods,8(61,pp11-54

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.,1927,Trees of Honduras,Tropical Woods,10, pp10-47

Rizzini, C.T.,1978,Arvores e Madeiras Uteis do Brasil: Manual de Dendrologia Brasileira,Editora Edgard Blucher LTDA Brazil

Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T.

Sao Paulo - Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnologicas,1956,Tabelas de Resultados obtidos para Madeiras Nacionais,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo, Brazil Bol., No.31(2nd Ed.)

Scheffer, T.C., Duncan, C.G.,1947,The Decay Resistance of certain Central American and Ecuadorian Woods,Tropical Woods,12(92, PP1-24

Slooten van der, H.J., Martinez, E.P.,1959,Descripcion y propiedades de algunas madeiras Venezolanas,Inst. for Lation Americano de Investigacion y Capaciticion Boletin,Informaturo Dirulgaturo

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

Timber Development Association Ltd.,1948,Notes on Ecuadorian Timbers,TRADA, Timber Information,35,pp5

Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA]

Venezuela-Laboratories Nacional de Productos Forestates,1974,Caraderisticas, Propiedades y usos de 104 Maderas de los allos Ilanos,occidentales,Min. Ag. y Cria, Universidad de Los andes, Merida, Venezuela Lab.Nac. de,Prod. For.

Villamil, F.G.,1971,Maderas Colombianas,Proexpo Colombia

Volkart, C.,1965,Recopilacion dedatos sobre propiedacies y usos maderos del Bosque Tropical,de las Costa Atlantica de Nicaragua,Turrialba,15(1, pp43-57

Wangaard, F.F., and A.F. Muschler. 1952. Tropical Woods - Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods, Volume III, No. 98. School of Forestry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

Wangaard, F.F., Chudnoff, M.,1950,The Steam Bending Properties of Certain Tropical American Woods,Yale Univ. School of Forestry Technical Report No. 6

Wangaard, F.F., Muschler, A.F.,1952,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 3,Tropical Woods,14(98, pp1-190

Wangaard, F.F.,1951,The Physical Properties of Tropical Woods,F.A.O. For. & For. Prod. Studies Series No.3 Tropical Woods and Ag.,Residues as sources of pulp,pp10-16

Williams, L. 1936. Woods of Northeastern Peru. Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series, Volume XV, Publication 377, Chicago.

Wolcott, G.N.,1950,An Index to the Termite Resistance of Woods,Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Puerto Rico Bulletin,No.85

Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series









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