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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 Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Weathering Scientific Name Dipteryx odorata Trade Name Tonka Family Name Papilionaceae Common Names Almendro, Baru, Barujo, Bois de coumarouna, Camaru, Charapilla, Comarre, Coumarouna, Cumaru, Cumaru amarello, Cumaru da folha grande, Cumaru do Amazonas, Cumaru ebo, Cumaru roxo, Cumarut, Cumbari, Cunuru, Ebo, Faux gayac, Feurier, Gayac, Gayac de cayennee, Gayal, Gomorrow, Groot locus, Koemaroe, Kumaru, Male, Quamare, Sarrapia, Shihuahaco amarillo, Tonca bean, Tonka, Tonka gaiae, Tonkebean, Tonquin bean Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Suriname, Venezuela Common Uses Agricultural implements, Axles, Barge fenders, Bearings & bushings, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Bushing blocks, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Construction, Crossties, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Farm vehicles, Fishing rods, Flooring, Furniture, Handles, Handles: general, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Machinery parts, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Parquet flooring, Piling, Pulpmill equipment, Railroad ties, Shafts/Handles, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wheels Environmental Profile Status unknown due to inadequate information Status has not been officially assessed Insufficient information on environmental status in Brazilian states of Amazonas, Mato Grosso and Para, as well as Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam and Venezuela Distribution Overview The Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia, and the Amazon region of Brazil; reaches its best development on well-drained gravelly or sandy sites. Cultivated in many areas for the tonka beans used as a flavoring. Heartwood Color Red Brown Purple Green/grey Reddish brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Purple Light buff to yellowish brown Dark brown Changes color upon exposure Brown The freshly cut heartwood is reddish brown or purplish brown with light yellowish-brown or purplish streaks. Exposure changes the color to uniform light brown or yellowish brown. Sapwood Color Yellow White Brown Pink White to yellow Different than heartwood Well defined Yellowish brown Narrow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Figure Interlocked Other (figure) Stripe (figure) Rippled (figure) Interlocked Other figure Striped figure Rippled figure Texture Coarse Medium Even or uniform Uniform Fine Medium Wood has a waxy or oily feel. Luster Low High Slightly lustrous Lustrous Low to medium Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Durable Very durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from marine borers Heartwood highly resistant to attack by brown-rot and white-rot fungi Excellent weather resistance Weathering Excellent Odor Has an odor No specific taste May have vanilla-like or rancid odor Silica Content High Siliceous Light-Induced Color Change Lighter Drying Defects Checking Distortion Splitting Slight surface checking Moderate twist/warp Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Medium to High Shrinkage Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Easy Air-dries rather well Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Slow Drying rate is slow Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 60-70 m Bole length is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is greater than 70 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Trunk diameter is 300-350 cm Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced regularly. Export potential is rated as fair. The wood is imported from Brazil into China and Japan. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good The wood is slightly superior to Greenheart (Ocotea rodiaei ) in all mechanical properties except side hardness and tension perpendicular to grain. Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Little Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Difficult Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Difficult to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to glue Poor gluing properties Gluing properties are poor because of the oily nature of the wood. Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Not stable/prone to move Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Planes to a satisfactory finish Straight grained and easy to work in most machining operations Planing yields smooth surfaces Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is extremely resistant Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Difficult to machine Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Veneers easily Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Exudation Fair to Good Results Unsuitable Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Max. crushing strength = very high Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = >75 lbs/cu. ft Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = very hard Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Max. crushing strength = high