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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 Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Turning Scientific Name Eperua falcata Trade Name Wallaba Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Apa, Apazeiro, Bainha de espada, Bijhout, Bijlhout, Bioudou, Bois de sabre, Eperu, Eperua falcata, Espadeira, Ituri, Ituri wallaba, Itusi wallaba, Jacare copahiba, Jebaro, Jebaru-rana, Palo machete, Parewe, Parive, Pois sabre, Soft wallaba, Uapa, Uapa tabaco, Vouapa-tabaca, Walaba, Walaba ituri walaba, Wallaba, Wallabaholz, Wapa, Wapa gras, Wapa huileux, Wapa patouve, Water wallaba, White wallaba, Woapa, Woapa huileux, Wopa, Wouapa, Yoboko Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela Common Uses Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Charcoal, Construction, Cooperages, Crossties, Decks, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Particleboard, Piling, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Roofing, Shingles, Structural work, Sub-flooring, Turnery, Utility poles, Vats, Vehicle parts, Wharf construction, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Vulnerable Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Generally found in the Guianas and into Venezuela and the Amazon region of northern Brazil. Heartwood Color Reddish brown Purple Dark brown Red Purplish brown Pale red to pink Dark gum streaks Sapwood Color Brown White White to yellow Well defined Different than heartwood Paler than heartwood Narrow Grey Contains gummy streaks Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Brownish white Grain Straight Figure Even Other (figure) Growth rings (figure) Rippled (figure) Weak (figure) Straight Other figure Weak figure Rippled figure Generally straight, but not always Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Coarse Medium to coarse Coarse Medium Fine Fine to medium Luster Dull Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin streaks Gum/resin exudation Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Durable Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Non-durable Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Durable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Resistant to decay Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Heartwood resistant to decay It is rated as low in resistance to attack by marine borers. Resistant to attack by subterranean termites and fairly resistant to dry-wood termite attack. Odor No characteristic taste May have a slightly disagreeable smell when green Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Checking Distortion Expect resin/gum exudation Moderate end spitting Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Warping can be expected Slight end splitting Severe twisting/warping Severe surface checking Severe end splitting Honeycombing possible Expect splits Checking Drying Degrade (cup) = slight Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Little degrade Difficult Dries slowly Air-Drying is suggested before kiln-drying. Marked tendency to develop drying degrade Kiln Drying Rate Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber production from the species is rather low. The timber is exported in low quantities. Substitutes The timber is similar in properties to Meranti (Shorea spp. ) Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as poor General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Moderate effect Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Saw teeth may be clogged by high exudation of gum from green wood. Kiln-dried wood is reported to exude little gum and is therefore easier to saw and machine. Gluing Easy to glue Glues well Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Small Stable Nailing Difficult to nail Pre-boring recommended Holds nails well Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Difficult to plane Ease of planing is moderate Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is highly resistant Untreatable Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Variable qualities Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Good results Steam Bending Moderate Painting Satisfactory results Polishing Satisfactory results Poor results Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Reacts with Iron to discolour wood Finish is generally good Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = very small Hardness (side grain) = hard Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength = very high Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu.ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 14185 20341 psi Density 56 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1986 lbs Impact Strength 28 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 8076 11074 psi Shearing Strength 1716 psi Stiffness 2175 2515 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.7 Weight 56 43 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 997 1430 kg/cm2 Density 897 kg/m3 Hardness 900 kg Impact Strength 71 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 567 778 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 120 kg/cm2 Stiffness 152 176 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.7 Weight 897 689 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % References Barbour, W.R.,1952,Cativo (Prioria copaifera,Journal of Forestry,50(2,PP96-9 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 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1951,Wafa (Eperua sp. en particulier E. falcata et E. jenmani,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.17 pp37-40 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. Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,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. Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London 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.,1948,Studies of the Trees of British Guiana Part 3,Tropical Woods,12(93,pp1-28 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 Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1954,Hardwoods for Industrial Flooring,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Leaflet, No.48 Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Estab