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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 Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Genipa americana Trade Name Jagua Family Name Rubiaceae Common Names Angelina, Arasaloe, Bi, Bois de fer, Brir, Caruto, Caruto rebalsero, Gene pas, Genepas, Genip, Genipa, Genipap, Genipapa, Genipapeiro, Genipapo, Genipapo do matto, Genipat, Genipayer, Genipo, Geniptree, Gigualti, Guaitil, Guaitil blanco, Hagua, Haitoc, Huito, Huitoc, Irayol, Jacua, Jagua, Jagua azul, Jagua blanco, Janipha, Jenipapo, Jenipayer, Junipa, Junipapo, Juniper, Juripapo, Lana, Maluco, Nandigua, Nandipa, Palo colorado, Ta, Tapaculo, Taparoepa, Taproepa, Xagua Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico [US], Suriname, Venezuela Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plain veneer, Plywood, Poles, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shafts/Handles, Skis, Sporting Goods, Stools, Structural plywood, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Toothpicks, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wooden shoes Environmental Profile Widespread May be rare in some parts of its range Globally secure Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant Distribution Overview General distribution throughout tropical America, from the West Indies and Mexico to Argentina including Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Peru and Brazil.  Widely planted for its shade and fruit. Found on well drained soils as well as periodically flooded river banks. Heartwood Color Brown Red Green/grey Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Yellowish brown Pale red to pink Greenish to greyish Brown The color of the heartwood is described as light yellowish brown, sometimes with a slight pinkish- or purplish-blue overcast. Sapwood Color White to yellow Same as heartwood Cream Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Figure Stripe (figure) Even Other (figure) Growth rings (figure) Irregular Straight Striped figure Other figure Irregular Clear growth rings (figure) The grain is straight to irregular. The timber often exhibits an attractive striped figure produced by narrow bands of darker-colored material. Texture Medium Fine Fine to medium Luster Lustrous Medium Dull Natural Durability Resistant to termites Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Non durable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Moderately durable Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Vulnerable to attack by pinhole borers Vulnerable to attack by dry-wood termites Vulnerable to attack by decay fungi Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Perishable Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Checking Collapse Distortion Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking No surface checking Slight spring/bow Slight end splitting Slight cupping No end splitting No cupping, generally Air-Drying is accompanied by very little warping and practically no surface checking Ease of Drying Slowly Thick Stock Requires Care Moderately Difficult to Difficult Difficult No info available on kiln drying Air dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Genipa fruit is used for the production of a sour refreshing drink. An indelible stain is prepared from the immature fruit. Blunting Effect Little Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Low cutting resistance Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Satisfactory gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to mortise Finishes well Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mould Good finishing results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Properly seasoned wood has good dimensional stability Nailing Holds nails well Difficult to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish The timber works easily, with excellent results in almost all operations. Its working properties are better than those of Mahogany and Teak. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Both heartwood and sapwood are easily treatable Resistance to Splitting Good Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Easy to machine Good response to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Yields smooth surfaces Good sanding qualities Easy to sand Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Staining Finish is generally good Staining (Characteristic) = coloured water-soluble extract Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11267 17912 psi Density 46 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1606 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 4685 7735 psi Shearing Strength 2043 psi Stiffness 1292 1807 1000 psi Toughness 180 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.53 0.62 Weight 45 38 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 792 1259 kg/cm2 Density 737 kg/m3 Hardness 728 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 329 543 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 143 kg/cm2 Stiffness 90 127 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 207 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.53 0.62 Weight 721 608 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Almeida, D.G. de, Costa, J.R. da,1956,Madeiras do Brasil. (Timbers of Brazil.,Min. Ag. Servico de Economia Rural, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,pp56 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 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 Falla Ramirez, A.,1971,Resultados de Estudios Fisico-Mechanicos de Algunas Maderas de la Serrania,de San Lucas. (Some timbers of the San Lucas mountain range.,Plegable Divulgativo, Div. Forestal, Inderena Colombia,pp6 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 France - Comite Nacional des Bois Coloniaux,1931,Etude Physique et Mecanique des Bois Coloniaux,Assoc. Colonies-Sciences & Comite National des Bios Coloniaux, Paris,,France Hoheisel, H., Karstedt, P.,1967,Identification of Ecuadorian Wood Sp. for possibilities of Utilization on,the basis of Technological Results,Institito Forestal Latino-Americana Merida Venezuala Hoheisel, H.,1968,Identification of some Colombian wood Sp. and their possible use on the,basis of physical and mechanical properties,Latin American Forest Research and Training Institute, Merida Venezuala Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory 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 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 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 Record, S.J.,1927,Trees of Honduras,Tropical Woods,10, pp10-47 Rizzini, C.T.,1978,Arvores e Madeiras Uteis do Brasil: Manual de Dendrologia Brasileira,Editora Edgard Blucher LTDA Brazil Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Schiffino, J.,1945,Riqueza Forestal Dominicana (Three volumes,Secretaria de Estado de Agric. Ind. y Trabajo 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 Tropical Woods,1968,Madeiras Comercias Brasileiras,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo Brazil Publ.,857 Wise, L.E.,1971,Estudio dentrologico e Deterinacao das Caracteristicas Fisicas e Mecanicas,do,Genipapo (Genipa americana L.,Brasil Florestal,2(8,PP17-21 Wolcott, G.N.,1940,A List of the Woods arranged according to their resistance to the attack,of,the 'Polilla', the Dry-wood Termite of the West Indies, Cryptotermes,brevis Walker,Caribbean Forester,1(4,PP1-10