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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 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 Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Diplotropis purpurea Trade Name Aramatta Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Bowdichia guianensis, Dibrachion guianense, Diplotropis guianensis, Diplotropis leptophylla Common Names Aji, Alcornoque, Aramatta, Araumatta, Baakia kiabici, Black sucupira, Botonallare, Coeur dehors, Congrio, Kabbes, Kiabici oudou, Konatopo, Levarte kabbes, Levorte kabbes, Mach, Ogoru, Olgoi, Peonia, Sapupira, Sapupira da varzea, Sucupipa, Sucupira, Sucupira assu, Sucupira-parda, Sucupira-preta, Supupira, Swarte kabbes, Taku, Tataboo, Tatabu, Zapan negro, Zwart kabbes, Zwarte kabbes Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bent Parts, Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Construction, Crossties, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Door, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Poles, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shafts/Handles, Shipbuilding, Stools, Structural work, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Status unknown due to inadequate information Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Uplands of the Guianas and in Para and Amazonas in Brazil. Fairly common in French Guiana, infrequent in Surinam and Guyana. Also in Venezuela. Heartwood Color Brown Pink Yellow Black Highly variable Red Orange Pale brown Dark brown Brown Waxy appearance Reddish brown Greenish to greyish Color lightens after seasoning. Sometimes greyish brown with fine lighter stripes Sapwood Color Tan Green/Grey White to yellow Well defined Different than heartwood Pinkish Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Figure Straight Interlocked Other (figure) Wavy Even Closed Distinct (figure) Stripe (figure) Straight Interlocked Other figure Wavy Striped figure Slightly wavy Slightly interlocked Generally straight, but not always Distinct figure Texture Coarse Medium Coarse Luster Low Pronounced Lustrous Medium to high Natural Durability Durable Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to termites Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to marine borer attack Durable Moderately durable Very durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to attack by marine borers Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Highly resistant to attack by drywood termites Heartwood resistant to attack by white rot and brown rot fungi Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content Siliceous Toxicity Some toxic effects Respiratory effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a slow speed T7 - B3 (4/4) US Drying Defects Resin Exudation Checking Collapse Distortion Moderate surface checking Slight twist/warp Severe surface checking Moderate twist/warp Moderate end spitting Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Slight cupping Severe twisting/warping Severe kiln schedule may cause severe checking and warping Severe cupping Rapid air-drying may cause checking and warping No cupping, generally Moderate spring/bow Moderate cupping Ease of Drying Medium to High Shrinkage Moderately Difficult to Difficult Thick Stock Requires Care Difficult Moderate Mild kiln schedules recommended to minimize drying defects Air-seasoning is moderately difficult Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm It often develops well-formed and straight stems that are free of branches for 60 to 70 feet (18 to 21 m) Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is a fairly important source of timber. The timber is exported regularly but in limited quantities. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good The wood is similar to the African species, Wenge (Millettia laurenti ) in many mechanical properties. It is superior to hickory (Carya ) and White oak (Quercus alba ). Blunting Effect High to severe Moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Difficult to saw Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Moderate stability when properly seasoned Medium Large Nailing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to plane Planes to a poor finish Coarse-Textured and irregular grain material is reported to yield poor planed surfaces. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is permeable Penetration of preservative solutions is adequate especially if there is good end-grain exposure Response to Hand Tools Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Good sanding finish Moderately difficult to work with ordinary tools Worked surfaces are rated as only fair to poor because of coarse texture and irregular grain. Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to screw Good screwing properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to turn Good results Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Steam Bending Exudation Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Painting Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Polishing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Satisfactory results Good results Requires a filler Staining Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Varnishing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Strength Properties Hardness (side grain) = hard Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Bending strength (MOR) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Max. crushing strength = very high Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = large