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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

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

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
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1126717912psi
Density46lbs/ft3
Hardness1606lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength46857735psi
Shearing Strength2043psi
Stiffness129218071000 psi
Toughness180inch-lbs
Specific Gravity0.530.62
Weight4538lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage8%
Volumetric Shrinkage13%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength7921259kg/cm2
Density737kg/m3
Hardness728kg
Maximum Crushing Strength329543kg/cm2
Shearing Strength143kg/cm2
Stiffness901271000 kg/cm2
Toughness207cm-kg
Specific Gravity0.530.62
Weight721608kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage8%

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









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