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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
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
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
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing

Scientific Name
Cordia alliodora

Trade Name
Light American cordia

Family Name
Boraginaceae

Synonyms
Cordia consanguinea, Cordia guyabensis, Cerdana allidora


Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Ajo, Ajo ajo, Ajoajo, Amarillo, American light cordia, Arbol del ajo, Bohun, Bois de Rhodes, Bois soumis, Bojon, Bomitel blanco, Brown silverballi, Canalete, Canalete de humo, Canaletta, Capa, Capa amarillo, Capa de olor, Capa de sabana, Capa Prieto, Capa sabana, Chene caparo, Cordia, Cyp, Cypre, Cypress, Ecuador laurel, Freijo, Guacimil, Guasimo nogal, Hormiguero, Larel de costa, Laurel, Laurel amarillo, Laurel blanco, Laurel corriente, Laurel de cerro, Laurel de costa, Laurel de montana, Laurel macho, Laurel negro, Lauro amarillo, Light American cordia, Loro negro, Lourel de costa, Louro, Louro amarillo, Moho, Moho salvio, Munecoc analete, Munecocanalete, Nogal blanco, Palo cacharro, Pardillo, Peterebi, Peterebi pardillo, Prieto, Princewood, Salm wood, Salmwood, Salomwood, Silverballi, Solero, Spanish elm, Suchicagle, Suchicague, Taparai, Urua, Uruazeiro, Uruazero, Uvito, Varia

Plantation species?
Yes

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

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Fiji [Polynesia], Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico [US], Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Venezuela

Common Uses
Beams, Bedroom suites, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Core Stock, Decks, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Door, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Oars, Paneling, Piling, Plywood, Posts, Railroad ties, Truck bodies, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative

Environmental Profile
Widespread
Status unknown in many of its growth areas
Rare in some parts of its range, particularly at the periphery
Globally secure
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center
Data source is Nature Conservancy
Abundant


Distribution Overview
Laurel (Cordia alliodora) is a tropical hardwood that grows from Mexico to Argentina, including the Caribbean. Laurel is the most widely distributed species of Cordia, a genus including some 200 species ranging from shrubs to large trees. The geographic range is quite extensive, from latitude 25° N. to 25° S., or roughly from the State of Sinaloa in Mexico to Misiones in Argentina (30). The range also includes most of the West Indies (16). Laurel is thought to have been introduced to Jamaica (13) and was first planted in Surinam as an exotic plantation species in 1967 (36). It has also been planted as an ornamental in Florida (16). Local distribution maps are not generally available, except for Mexico (7), Colombia (37), and Puerto Rico (16) where ranges are given for both geographical and political regions. In Puerto Rico laurel grows in more than half of the municipalities, in 8 of 13 State Forests, and in the Luquillo Experimental Forest Biosphere Reserve.

Heartwood Color
Yellow
Red
Brown
Orange
Brown
Pale brown
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Greenish to greyish
Dark brown
Irregular markings
Golden brown


Sapwood Color
Red
Yellow
Well defined
Paler than heartwood
White to yellow
Same as heartwood


Grain
Straight
Figure
Stripe (figure)
Interlocked
Mottled (figure)
Growth rings (figure)
Even
Rays (figure)
Distinct (figure)

Straight
Striped figure
Interlocked
Mottled figure
Clear growth rings (figure)
Rays figure
Quartersawn surfaces are flecked
Generally straight, but not always
Distinct figure

Quartersawn surfaces usually have attractive ray flecked figure.

Texture
Coarse
Medium
Fine to medium
Medium
Medium to coarse


Luster
Medium
Lustrous
Pronounced
Dull


Natural Durability
Durable
Perishable
Moderately durable
Non-durable
Resistant to termites
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Susceptible to insect attack
Durable
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Moderately durable
Very durable
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to attack from marine borers
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack
Heartwood is moderately resistant to decay


Odor
No specific smell or taste


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
Dry at a moderate speed
UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5
T6 - D2 (4/4) US
T3 - D1 (8/4) US


Drying Defects
Distortion
Slight surface checking
Slight end splitting
Slight twist/warp
Slight cupping
Slight spring/bow
No surface checking
No end splitting
No cupping, generally
Moderate twist/warp
Moderate collapse and honeycombing
Slight collapse and honeycomb
Moderate spring/bow
Generally free from spring and bow


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Easy
Moderate


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries quickly


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is buttressed


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


Product Sources

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Little
Blunting effect on machining is slight
Slight
Blunting effect on sawing green wood is mild
Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild


Boring
Fairly easy to very easy
Easy
Very good results


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy
Easy to saw


Gluing
Easy to glue
Glues well


Mortising
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to mortise


Moulding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to mould
Good finishing results


Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Moderate stability
Medium


Nailing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Pre-boring recommended
Good nailing properties


Planing
Easy to plane
Planes well, to a good finish
Good planing properties


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


Resistance to Splitting
Poor


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Easy to machine


Routing & Recessing
Good in both routing and recessing.


Sanding
Easy to sand
Good sanding finish


Screwing
Poor results
Easy to screw


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to turn
Good results


Steam Bending
Moderate
Poor
Good


Polishing
Satisfactory results
Good results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Stains well
Finish is generally satisfactory


Varnishing
Good results


Strength Properties
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Max. crushing strength = medium
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Max. crushing strength = low
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = very low
Bending strength (MOR) = high
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Resists denting and marring
Heavy
Hardness = medium
Density = high
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength753910914psi
Crushing Strength666804psi
Density33lbs/ft3
Hardness912lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength37806140psi
Shearing Strength1105psi
Static Bending55968007psi
Stiffness118713931000 psi
Toughness135inch-lbs
Work to Maximum Load1010inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.380.51
Weight3024lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage7%
Volumetric Shrinkage9%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength530767kg/cm2
Crushing Strength4656kg/cm2
Density528kg/m3
Hardness413kg
Maximum Crushing Strength265431kg/cm2
Shearing Strength77kg/cm2
Static Bending393562kg/cm2
Stiffness83971000 kg/cm2
Toughness155cm-kg
Work to Maximum Load0.700.70cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.380.51
Weight480384kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage7%

References
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Alston, A.S.,1982,Timbers of Fiji: Properties and potential uses,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva

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

Bodig, J. and B. A. Jayne. 1982. Mechanics of Wood and Wood Composites. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York.

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.

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.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University

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

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.

Davis, E.M.,1949,Exploratory tests in machining and related properties of 15 Tropical,American Hardwoods,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,Report,No.1744

Dickinson, F.E.,1949,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 1,Tropical Woods,13(95,pp1-140

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

Fanshawe, D.B.,1954,Forest Products of British Guiana Part 1 Principal Timbers,Forest Department British Guiana Forestry Bulletin (New Series 2nd,Edition,No.1

Fiji Forestry Department,1981,The Properties and Uses of 43 Indigenous and Exotic Timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Fiji Timbers and their Uses No.71

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

Gonzalez, T.,1971,Maderas Latinoamericanas 7 caracteristicas anatomicas Fisico mecanicas, de,secado y Tratabilidad de la Madera juvenil de Cordia alliodora,Turrialba,21(3,pp350-56

Haslett, A.N.; Young, G.D. and Britton, R.A.J.,1991,Plantation grown Tropical Timbers. 2. Properties, Processing and Uses,Journal of Tropical Forest Science 3(3):229-237

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

Johnson, P., Morales, R.,1972,A Review of Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav) Oken,Turrialba,22(2,pp210-20

Kribbs, D.A. 1959. Commercial Foreign Woods on the American Market. Buckhout Lab., Dept. of Botany, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.

Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125

Kynoch, W., Norton, N.A.,1938,Mechanical Properties of certain tropical woods chiefly from S. America,School of Forestry and Conservation, University of Michigan Bulletin,No.7

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., Wadsworth, F.H.,1964,Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.249

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

Longwood, F.R.,1961,Puerto Rican Woods - Their Machining Seasoning and Related Characteristics,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.205

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Perpetua Hardwoods. Sea Star Trading Co. - Purveyors of Fine Wood. Newport, Oregon. Personal Communication, 1993.

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Schiffino, J.,1945,Riqueza Forestal Dominicana (Three volumes,Secretaria de Estado de Agric. Ind. y Trabajo

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