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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 Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Light-Induced Color Change
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
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Silica Content
Staining
Strength Properties
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Hura crepitans

Trade Name
Hura

Family Name
Euphorbiaceae

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Acacu, Acau, Acuapa, Acuapar, Arbol del diablo, Arbre au diable, Areeiro, Arenillero, Arerillo, Asniakara, Assacu, Bois du diable, Castana, Castaneto, Catahua, Cataua, Ceiba amarilla, Ceiba bla, Ceiba blanca, Ceiba de leche, Ceiba habilla, Ceiba habillo, Ceiba mil pesos, Cuatatachi, Haba, Haba de indio, Habillo, Hura, Hura wood, Jabillo, Javillo, Molinillo, Monkeys dinner bell, Nune, Ochoho, Ochoo, Ovillo, Pet du diable, Possentrie, Possum, Possumwood, Quauhayohuatli, Quauhtlat-latzin, Racuada, Rakuda, Rakudar, Sablier, Salvadera, Sandbox, Seda blanca, Solimanche, Tetereta, Tronador, Uacacu

Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico [US], Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

Common Uses
Blockboard, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Core Stock, Cutting surfaces, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Fiberboard, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, General carpentry, Hatracks, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matchboxes, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Pallets, Particleboard, Plain veneer, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Sporting Goods, Stools, Structural plywood, Veneer

Environmental Profile
Vulnerable
Abundant/Secure
Rare
Rather rare in parts of its range expecially at periphery
Globally secure
Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within its range
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center
Data source is Nature Conservancy
Abundant


Distribution Overview
Throughout the West Indies and from Central America to northern Brazil and Bolivia.  Often occurs in nearly pure stands in Surinam on moist sandy loam. Frequently cultivated for shade. In Bolivia, found in the transition from humid tropical forest to humid sub-tropical forest in the provinces of Santa Cruz, Beni, Cochabamba and La Paz y Pando.

Heartwood Color
White
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
White to cream
Pale brown
Greenish to greyish
Dark brown
Brown
Yellowish white
Grayish-white


Sapwood Color
White
White to yellow
Same as heartwood
Grayish white


Grain
Straight
Interlocked
Figure
Distinct (figure)
Even
Weak (figure)
Rippled (figure)
Stripe (figure)
Variable (figure)

Straight
Interlocked
Distinct figure
Weak figure
Striped figure
Rippled figure
Occasionally interlocked, but not always
Irregular color
Generally straight, but not always


Texture
Fine
Medium
Fine to medium
Fine
Medium coarse to coarse
Even textured


Luster
Lustrous
Pronounced
High


Natural Growth Defects
Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive


Natural Durability
Perishable
Moderately durable
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Non durable
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to wood staining fungal attack
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Heartwood has very little natural resistance


Odor
No specific smell or taste


Silica Content
Contains silica


Light-Induced Color Change
Darker


Toxicity
Dermatitic effects


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5
T6-D2 (4/4) US
T3 - D1 (8/4) US
Schedule E (4/4) United Kingdom
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid
Dry at a slow speed


Drying Defects
Discoloration
Distortion
Moderate twist/warp
Slight twist/warp
Slight surface checking
Moderate surface checking
Slight spring/bow
Slight end splitting
Severe twisting/warping
Severe surface checking
Severe spring/bow
No cupping, generally
Moderate spring/bow
Generally free from spring and bow


Ease of Drying
Rapidly
Difficult
Moderate
Easy
Control drying yields best results


Kiln Drying Rate
Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm)


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is buttressed
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is cylindrical
Bole/stem form is not buttressed


Tree Size
Tree height is 10-20 m


Product Sources
The ITTO reports that small quantities of timber from this lesser-known-species is exported at a regular rate from Brazil to the United States, Venezuela, and Germany.

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Tension wood is common

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on machining is slight
Slight
Blunting effect on sawing green wood is moderate
Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate


Boring
Fairly difficult to very difficult
Difficult
Areas of tension wood affect results


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly difficult to carve


Cutting Resistance
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with green wood is variable
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting resistance with dry wood is variable
Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult
Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult


Gluing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to glue
Glues well


Mortising
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Moderately easy to mortise


Moulding
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Difficult to mould


Movement in Service
Small
Seasoned wood is stable
Medium


Nailing
Fair to Good Results
Easy to nail
Holds nails well


Planing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Tension & interlocked grain may cause woolly surfaces
Planes to a poor finish
Difficult to plane


Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable sapwood
Permeable heartwood
Heartwood is permeable


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to machine
Variable qualities
Tension wood & interlocked grain may cause difficulties
Moderate working qualities


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Routing is difficult


Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Poor results
Difficult to sand


Screwing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Screwing yields satisfactory results
Good screwing properties


Turning
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Tension wood may cause surfaces to be woolly


Veneering Qualities
There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits
Moderately easy to veneer
Drying degrade is often moderate to severe, with collapse, buckles, and splilts
Diifficult to veneer


Polishing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Requires care
Good results


Staining
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Finish is generally satisfactory
Finish is generally good


Strength Properties
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Max. crushing strength = low
Bending strength (MOR) = very low
Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Max. crushing strength = medium
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = medium


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength55298010psi
Crushing Strength402613psi
Density27lbs/ft3
Hardness558lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength22123902psi
Shearing Strength990psi
Static Bending38515272psi
Stiffness103911961000 psi
Toughness69inch-lbs
Work to Maximum Load67inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.310.34
Weight2621lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage4%
Volumetric Shrinkage8%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength388563kg/cm2
Crushing Strength2843kg/cm2
Density432kg/m3
Hardness253kg
Maximum Crushing Strength155274kg/cm2
Shearing Strength69kg/cm2
Static Bending270370kg/cm2
Stiffness73841000 kg/cm2
Toughness79cm-kg
Work to Maximum Load0.420.49cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.310.34
Weight416336kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage4%

References
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

Bodig, J. and B. A. Jayne. 1982. Mechanics of Wood and Wood Composites. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York.

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods - Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Brooks, R.L., et al,1941,Durability tests on Untreated Timbers in Trinidad,Caribbean Forester,2(3,pp101-119

Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University

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

Carter, D.T.,1943,The Manufacture of shingles from local woods in Trinidad and Tobago,Caribbean Forester,4(3,pp107-11

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

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.,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

Flores Rodriguez, L.J.,1969,Description Caracteristicas y usos de 25 Maderas tropicales,Mexicanas,Camera Nacional de la Industria de la Construccion Serie Maderas de Mexico

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 Establishment

Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara

Hess, R.W., Wangaard, F.F., Dickinson, F.E.,1950,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 2,Tropical Woods,13(97,pp1-132

HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods. 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting

ITTO. New Marketable Species Technical Notes. Prepared by Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, 94736 Nogent-sur-marne Cedex, France.

Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125

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

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.,1971,25 Madeiras da Amazonia de Valor Comercial, Caracterizacas macroscopia,,usos comuns e indices qualificativos,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo, Brazil Publ., No.798

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

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

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.)

Schiffino, J.,1945,Riqueza Forestal Dominicana (Three volumes,Secretaria de Estado de Agric. Ind. y Trabajo

Slooten van der, H.J., Martinez, E.P.,1959,Descripcion y propiedades de algunas madeiras Venezolanas,Inst. for Lation Americano de Investigacion y Capaciticion Boletin,Informaturo Dirulgaturo

Stevens, W C,1961,Kiln Operators Handbook,HMSO

Surinam Forest Service,1952,Surinam Timber - A Summary with brief descriptions of the main timber,species of Surinam,Surinam Forest Service

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

Teixeira, D. E., M. A. E. Santana and M. Rabelo de Souza. 1988. Amazonian Timbers for the International Market. ITTO Technical Series 1. Brazilian Institute for Forestry Development, Brazil.

Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd.

Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA]

Tropical Woods,1968,Madeiras Comercias Brasileiras,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo Brazil Publ.,857

Villamil, F.G.,1971,Maderas Colombianas,Proexpo Colombia

Vink, A.T.,1965,Surinam Timbers,Surinam Forest Service Paramaribo,3rd rev. ed.

Wangaard, F.F., and A.F. Muschler. 1952. Tropical Woods - Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods, Volume III, No. 98. School of Forestry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

Wangaard, F.F., Muschler, A.F.,1952,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 3,Tropical Woods,14(98, pp1-190

Wangaard, F.F.,1951,The Physical Properties of Tropical Woods,F.A.O. For. & For. Prod. Studies Series No.3 Tropical Woods and Ag.,Residues as sources of pulp,pp10-16

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Wolcott, G.N.,1950,An Index to the Termite Resistance of Woods,Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Puerto Rico Bulletin,No.85

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Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13









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