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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 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 Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing 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 Varnishing Scientific Name Hieronyma alchorneoides Trade Name Suradan Family Name Euphorbiaceae Common Names Abacateiro, Aguacatillo, Anoniwana, Aquacatillo, Aricurana, Bois d'amande, Bois de vin, Cajuela, Calum calum, Candelo, Canelo, Cargamanto, Carneasada, Casaco, Casco, Catatu, Cedremacho, Coral, Curtidor, Horseflesh mahogany, Licurana, Magoncalo, Mancito, Mara-gonzalo, Maragonzalo, Margoncalo, Margonoalo, Mascary, Mirim, Motillon colorado, Muiragoncalo, Nancito, Nanciton, Okotjo, Orocurana, Palo chancho, Pantano, Pau de quina, Pau-quina-vermelha, Pequi-de-zoada, Piento-bolletrie, Pilon, Quina vermelha, Rosita, Sagua, Sangue de boi, Sangue-de-boi, Scotch ebo, Sorodon, Surada, Suradan, Suradanni, Suradomni, Tapana, Tapanare, Torito, Trompilio, Trompillo, Uricana, Urirana, Urucurana, Urucurana de leite, Urucurana-mirim, Urucurana-parda, Urucurana-roxa, Yackuchinum, Zapatero Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico [US], Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Crossties, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Roofing, Rustic furniture, Stools, Structural work, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Caribbean, or Mexico and Central America to tropical South America. Heartwood Color Reddish brown Dark brown Dark brown Brown Purple Pinkish white Color varies considerably Sapwood Color Pinkish White to yellow Well defined Pinkish white Paler than heartwood Gray beige Grain Interlocked Figure Stripe (figure) Even Straight Closed Growth rings (figure) Other (figure) Wavy Variable (figure) Interlocked Striped figure Straight Wavy Variable figure Other figure Generally interlocked Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Medium to coarse Coarse Fine to medium Luster Lustrous Dull Slightly lustrous Dull to fairly lustrous Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Durable Perishable Moderately durable Resistant to marine borers Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Durable Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately durable Resistant to attack from marine borers Very good weathering properties Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to decay Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK= C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Warping can be expected Severe twisting/warping No resin/gum exudation Moderate end spitting Moderate collapse and honeycombing Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Difficult Moderate Variable results. Radial and tangential shrinkage from 4-7% Dries at a fairly rapid rate Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Under very good growing conditions, the tree is reported to develop well-formed boles that are free of branches for as much as 70 feet (21 m). Large buttresses reduce usable length to about 50 feet (15 m). Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber production from the species is low. Export potential is rated as fair. The wood is used for heavy construction, ship building, and railroad ties within its native range. When available, it is inexpensive compared to other imported woods. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Wood is strong enough for furniture applications but is prone to warping Blunting Effect High to severe Medium effect Boring Easy Moderately easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Easy to glue Mortising Finishes well Finishes satisfactorily Easy to mortise Moulding Easy to mould Good finishing results Areas of interlocked grain affect mortising, moulding, and boring Movement in Service Stable Nailing Pre-boring required Pre-boring required for nailing & screwing Holds nails well Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes to a poor finish Difficult to plane Easy to plane Interlocked grain may cause chipping Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is permeable Moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Satisfactory Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Variable qualities Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Routing bits may cause resin in wood to burn or darken Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding finish Easy to sand Satisfactory sanding results Sading belts burn and darken resin Screwing Screwing yields good results Turning Good results Easy to turn Finish is generally satisfactory Polishing Good results Staining Darkness of wood makes staining unnecessary Varnishing Very well Strength Properties Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = large Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Hardness (side grain) = soft Toughness (total work) = medium Toughness (total work) = low Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = very high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10358 16818 psi Density 48 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1611 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 4865 8473 psi Shearing Strength 1221 psi Stiffness 1682 1993 1000 psi Toughness 199 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.52 0.58 Weight 49 47 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 17 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 728 1182 kg/cm2 Density 769 kg/m3 Hardness 730 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 342 595 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 85 kg/cm2 Stiffness 118 140 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 229 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.52 0.58 Weight 785 753 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % References Acosta-Solis, M.,1960,Maderas Economicas del Ecuador y sus Usos,Editorial Casa de la Culhra Ecuatoriana Quito 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 Arno, J. 1991. Hyeronima alchorneoides - Pilon. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. Page 188-189. 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 Brooks, R.L., et al,1941,Durability tests on Untreated Timbers in Trinidad,Caribbean Forester,2(3,pp101-119 Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 9 Central America and the Caribbean,TRADA, Red Booklet Series CAOBA International, San Francisco, California. 1993. Personal Communication. 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. Davis, E.M.,1949,Exploratory tests in machining and related properties of 15 Tropical,American Hardwoods,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,Report,No.1744 Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Filho Colmbra, A.F., Filho De Matto, A.,1953,Ensaios e apontamentos sobre a urucurana (Hieronyma alchorneoides,Anuario Brasileiro De Economia Florestal 6 pp188.95 Guyana - Forest Department,1951,British Guiana Timbers - Wallaba (Epenia Spp.,British Guiana Forestry Department Leaflet No. 3 Jane, F.W.,1954,The Structure of World Timbers - 21 Muganga Musine Pilon and Hura,Timber Technology,62(2175, pp15-17 Longwood, F.R.,1961,Puerto Rican Woods - Their Machining Seasoning and Related Characteristics,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.205 Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207 Loureiro, A.A., Freitas da Silva, M.,1968,Catalogo das Madeiras da Amazonia (2 vols,Min. do Ultramar Belem Brasil Mainieri, C., Pereira, J.A.,1965,Madeiras do Brasil,Anuario Brasileiro de Economia Florestal,17(17,PP135-416 Mainieri, C.,1970,Madeiras Brasilieras,Sao Paulo Secretaria da Agricultra, Institulo Florestral Mainieri, C.,1978,Fichas de Caracteristicas das Madeiras Brasileiras,Inst. Pesquisas Technologicas Marshall, R.C.,1934,Trees of Trinidad and Tobago,Government Printer Port of Spain Trinidad 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 Rizzini, C.T.,1978,Arvores e Madeiras Uteis do Brasil: Manual de Dendrologia Brasileira,Editora Edgard Blucher LTDA Brazil Sao Paulo - Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnologicas,1956,Tabelas de Resultados obtidos para Madeiras Nacionais,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo, Brazil Bol., No.31(2nd Ed.) Scheffer, T.C., Duncan, C.G.,1947,The Decay Resistance of certain Central American and Ecuadorian Woods,Tropical Woods,12(92, PP1-24 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 Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA] Tropical Timber Information Centre,1975,Hieronyma alchorneoides and Hieronyma laxiflora,State University, New York TTIC Brief No. 5. Tropical Woods,1968,Madeiras Comercias Brasileiras,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo Brazil Publ.,857 Unwin, A.H.,1920,West African Forests and Forestry,T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. London Villamil, F.G.,1971,Maderas Colombianas,Proexpo Colombia WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center - Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom. Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series