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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 Certified Source 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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Iryanthera spp. Trade Name Kirikawa Family Name Myristicaceae Common Names Banak, Bemoonba, Bicui, Cuangare, Karikowa, Kirikawa, Marakaipo, Mouchigo rouge, Pajoelidan, Sangrito, Soewana, Ucuhuba rana, Virola de tumaco Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Columbia, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela Common Uses Beams, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Core Stock, Decks, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Fiberboard, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Millwork, Particleboard, Plywood, Turnery, Veneer Environmental Profile Vulnerable Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Upland virgin forests in the Guianas, Amazon regions of Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. Also Pacific Coastal areas of Colombia. Heartwood Color Brown Green/grey Black Red Purple Pink The heartwood varies in color. It may be light pinkish-cinnamon, dull oatmeal, or medium to dark brown, occasionally reddish or purplish Sapwood Color White Yellow Green/Grey Brown Very wide Oatmeal in color Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Straight Straight Texture Medium Coarse Fine Medium Luster Medium High Low Medium High Natural Durability Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Durable Perishable Sapwood non-resistant to furniture beetles Non-durable Prone to blue stain Heartwood resistance to decay is rated from poor to fair Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Drying Defects Internal Honeycombing Possible Splitting Collapse The wood may warp and check moderately during drying Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Variable Reconditioning Treatement Slowly The material air-seasons with little or only moderate difficulty, but the timber exhibits unusually high shrinkage in comparison to most tropical woods with the same density Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 0-10 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm The height is more commonly 75 to 100 feet (23 to 30 m), with a trunk diameter of 18 inches (45 cm). It develops reasonably long boles with good form Certified Source Certified Source Blunting Effect Moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Good boring properties Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good carving properties Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Brownish Cutting resistance is low Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good mortising properties Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good moulding properties Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Readily Response to ordinary tools is generally good. Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Responds well to recessing and routing Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Sands to produce a smooth surface Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Turned surfaces are generally clean and smooth Responds well to turning operations Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8056 12988 psi Crushing Strength 382 735 psi Density 35 lbs/ft3 Hardness 911 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3768 8031 psi Shearing Strength 1316 psi Static Bending 5122 8592 psi Stiffness 1754 2244 1000 psi Toughness 199 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 6 10 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.48 0.58 Weight 33 27. lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 566 913 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 26 51 kg/cm2 Density 560 kg/m3 Hardness 413 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 264 564 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 92 kg/cm2 Static Bending 360 604 kg/cm2 Stiffness 123 157 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 229 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.42 0.70 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.48 0.58 Weight 528 432. kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % References Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Wangaard, F.F., W.L. Stern, and S.L. Goodrich. 1955. Tropical Woods - Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods, Volume V, No. 103. School of Forestry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.