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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 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 Planing Plantation species? Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Hevea brasiliensis Trade Name Para rubbertree Family Name Euphorbiaceae Common Names Arbol de caucho, Caoutchonc tree, Capi, Conori, Hatti, Hevea, Jacia, Jeve, Jeve debil fino, Jeve debil muerto, Jeve fino, Mapalapa, Messigne, Para rubber, Para rubber tree, Para rubbertree, Rapparappa, Rubber wood, Seringa, Seringa mapa, Seringa mashan, Seringa rana, Seringuera, Seringuera amarella, Seringuera barriguda, Seringuera branca, Seringuera chicote, Seringuera da catinga, Seringuera da terra firme, Seringuera folha de maniva, Seringuera itauba, Seringuera itaubarana, Seringuera legitima, Seringuera pescoco de veado, Seringuera preta, Seringuera roxa, Seringuera tambaqui, Seringuera torraba, Seringuera vermelha, Seve joeballi, Shinga del cerro, Shiringa amarilla, Shringa, Sibi-sibi, Urco seringa Plantation species? Yes Regions of Distribution Africa, Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Guyana, India, Malaysia, Peru, Suriname, Thailand, Venezuela Common Uses Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Charcoal, Construction, Fiberboard, Fuelwood, Furniture components, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Moldings, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Toothpicks, Toys, Veneer Environmental Profile Status unknown in many of its growth areas Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Native to the Amazon region; Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. Introduced to many other tropical regions of the world, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Liberia, India, Sri Lanka, Sarawak, and Thailand. Ranges from Subtropical Wet (without frost) to Tropical Dry to Tropical Wet Forest Life Zones, rubber is reported to tolerate annual precipitation of 10.2 to 42.9 dm, annual temperature of 23.1 to 27.5°C, and pH of (4.0) 4.3 to 8.0. A rain-forest species of the Amazon Basin, rubber is now an Asian crop, with Asia producing 92% of the world's natural rubber in Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, South Vietnam, and Sarawak. Thrives best in deep well-drained loamy soil, covered by natural undergrowth or leguminous cover-crop and protected from erosion. Heartwood Color Yellow Orange White Red Pink Brown White to cream Pale brown Pale red to pink Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Whitish Light brown with pinkish cast upon exposure Sapwood Color Red Yellow White Same as heartwood Grain Straight Figure Closed Even Interlocked Wavy Other (figure) Rays (figure) Rippled (figure) Straight Wavy Interlocked Rippled figure Rays figure Other figure Generally straight, but not always Texture Medium Fine Medium to coarse Coarse Coarse and uniform Luster Medium Low Low Dull Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin exudation Latex or other ducts Natural Durability Non-durable Moderately durable Perishable Resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to termites Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Perishable Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Very little natural resistance Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Odor Sour odor No specific taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 T6-D2 (4/4) US Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Moderate twist/warp Slight twist/warp Severe twisting/warping Moderate end spitting Without proper seasonal precaution, timber is highly prone to distortion Slight surface checking Slight spring/bow Severe spring/bow Moderate spring/bow Moderate spring/bow Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Moderately Difficult to Difficult Moderate Air-drying under cover, weighed down, and closely spaced, yields best results Lumber requires chemical protection after conversion to prevent blue stain and borer attack Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Naturally dries at a moderate speed Rapid Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Product Sources Apart from timber, latex tapped from Para rubbertree produces the best quality rubber, superior to that from all other latex-producing trees and synthetic rubber. The tree is the source of all the natural rubber produced in the world. About 95% of the world's rubber supply originate from Southeast Asia, and it has been estimated that about 50,000 different products are directly or indirectly made from rubber. The tree is also valued for its edible seeds, and the earliest and principal use of rubber trees locally was for that purpose. The mottled seeds are also used as fish bait by the natives. Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on sawing green wood is severe Boring Fairly easy to very easy Easy Moderately easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Satisfactory moulding results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-boring recommended Holds nails well Tends to split during nailing Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Planes to a satisfactory finish Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is permeable Moderately resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Screwing Screwing yields good results Possible if prebored Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor results Difficult to turn Finish is generally satisfactory Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Good gluing qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Suitable for peeling No steaming needed during bolt preparation. Easy to cut Polishing Fair to Good Results Staining There are staining characteristics that should be watched for, but the specifics are not available. Finish is generally good Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Radial = very small Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate <