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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 Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing 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 Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Didymopanax morototoni Trade Name Morototo Family Name Araliaceae Synonyms Panax undulata, Didymopanax calophyllum, Didymopanax chrysophyllum Common Names Ambayguazu, Anonillo, Arbre de Saint Jean, Arriero, Badana, Bigi boesie, Cafetero, Cassavehout, Chancaro blanco, Cordoban, Costilla de danto, Ga, Guitarrero, Higueroton, Jereton, Karoboro, Karohoro, Kasavehout, Macho, Mandioqueira, Marupauba falso, Matchwood, Matetauba, Mor, Morototo, Mountain trumpet, Mucututu, Orumo macho, Saint Jean, Sancha uva, Sun sun, Tinajero, Tobitoutou, Yagrumo, Yagrumo macho, Yarumero Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guadelope [France], Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico [US], Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela Common Uses Balusters, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Canoes, Casks, Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Core Stock, Flooring, Food containers, Furniture, General carpentry, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Light construction, Matchboxes, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments: percussion, Packing cases, Particleboard, Pencil, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Stairworks, Stringers, Structural plywood, Toothpicks, Toys, Trimming, Utility plywood, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting Environmental Profile Rare Extinct Endangered The enviropnmental status of this species is currently listed as unknown due to lack of information in most areas within its range including, the Caribbean Islands, Cuba, Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam, and Venezuela (Source - World Conservation Monitoring Center - 1992 The species is demonstrably widespread, abundant, and secure globally, although it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery (Source - The Nature Conservancy - Rank of relative endangerment based mainly on the number of occurrences of the species worldwide) Distribution Overview Widespread in the wet forests of tropical America, West Indies and southern Mexico to Bolivia, Brazil, Guianas, and Argentina. Characteristic of open forests, edges of savannas, and former clearings. Heartwood Color Brown Purple Black Red White to cream Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color Red Color not distinct from heartwood White to yellow Grain Straight Figure Even Weak (figure) Growth rings (figure) Straight Weak figure Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Medium Fine to medium Coarse Moderately fine Luster High Medium Medium Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart frequent-extensive Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) The heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworm (ambrosia beetle) attack may be present in the standing tree Susceptible to dry-wood termites Susceptible to attack by fungi Prone to blue stain Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Checking Severe twisting/warping Moderate twist/warp No surface checking Warping can be expected Severe cupping No end splitting Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting End splitting Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Thick Stock Requires Care Slowly Requires slow and careful seasoning to prevent degrade. Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is a fairly important source of timber. Export potential is rated as fair. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good The wood is similar in properties to the African species Obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon ). Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on sawing green wood is mild Boring Fair to good results Fairly difficult to very difficult Difficult Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Blunting of saws Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to mould Good finishing results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to nail Satisfactory nailing properties Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Machined surfaces are fairly smooth Easy to use machine tools Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is permeable End-Grain penetration is good and incising is suggested for best results in preservative treatment. Resistance to Splitting Excellent Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Sanding Easy to sand Good sanding finish Screwing Pre-boring recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to screw Good screw holding properties Turning Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Difficult to turn Veneering Qualities No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Good gluing qualities Flat and no splits Easy to cut Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor results Good results Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Bending strength (MOR) = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7200 11865 psi Crushing Strength 268 615 psi Density 34 lbs/ft3 Hardness 902 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3192 6371 psi Shearing Strength 1714 psi Stiffness 1476 1798 1000 psi Toughness 89 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.41 Weight 33 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 506 834 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 18 43 kg/cm2 Density 544 kg/m3 Hardness 409 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 224 447 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 120 kg/cm2 Stiffness 103 126 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 102 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.41 Weight 528 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Bena, P.,1960,Essences Forestieres de Guyane,Bureau Agricole et Forestier Guyanais Guyana 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 Brazil -, I.B.D.F.,1980,Woods from Tucurui - characteristics and application,The Ag. Ministry Brazilian Institute for Forest Development Celulosa Argentina,1973,Libro del Arbol,Celulosa Argentina Buenos Aires 3 Vols 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. 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 Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara 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 Longwood, F.R.,1961,Puerto Rican Woods - Their Machining Seasoning and Related Characteristics,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.205 Loureiro, A.A., Freitas da Silva, M.,1968,Catalogo das Madeiras da Amazonia (2 vols,Min. do Ultramar Belem Brasil 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 Overbeck, W.,1968,Pastas Celulosicas de Madeiras da Amazonia,Inst. de Pesquisas Tecnologicas, Sao Paulo Brasil Publ.,828 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 Slooten, H.J. van der,1970,Evaluation Study of eighteen Wood Species from Guyana for Veneer and,Plywood Manufacture,Forest Industries Development Survey FAO Report SF/GUY9 Tech. Report,No.13,U.N.D.P. 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 Teixeira, D. E., M. A. E. Santana and M. Rabelo de Souza. 1988. Amazonian Timbers for the International Market. ITTO Technical Series 1. Brazilian Institute for Forestry Development, Brazil. 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. Vink, A.T.,1965,Surinam Timbers,Surinam Forest Service Paramaribo,3rd rev. ed. Williams, L. 1936. Woods of Northeastern Peru. Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series, Volume XV, Publication 377, Chicago.