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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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Luster Mortising Moulding Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Silica Content Texture Trade Name Tree Size Scientific Name Licania sparsipilis Trade Name Marishballi Family Name Chrysobalanaceae Common Names Abure, Anaura, Bois gris, Cana dulce, Caraipe, Carbonero, Kairiballi, Kauta, Kwepie, Marishballi, Merecure de montana, Monkey apple, Pintadinho, Sapote Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Brazil, Columbia, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Barge fenders, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Charcoal, Construction, Crossties, Docks, Dockwork, Factory construction, Fuelwood, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Naval architecture, Raft floats, Rafts, Railroad ties, Wharf construction Environmental Profile The future survival of this species is at risk Rare in parts of its natural range (population is at risk) Data source is Nature Conservancy The species is widespread, abundant (often more than 100 occurrences), and apparently secure globally Distribution Overview The species occurs in gallery forests and forests on terra firma from Mexico (Oaxaca) to Panama (Colon). Heartwood Color Brown Yellow The heartwood is commonly yellowish brown to brown, or dark brown, and may have a tinge of red. Sapwood Color Brown Yellow Dimpled on tangential surfaces. Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Straight Straight Texture Coarse Fine Medium Stright and closed Fine Luster Low Low Natural Durability Resistance to marine borer attack is high Durability is variable and is species specific, but it is generally low to moderately low Odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content The woods of Licania usually contain high levels of silica Drying Defects Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Drying is moderately difficult and occurs at a moderate to a rapid rate Tree Size The trunk diameters are commonly 16 to 24 inches (40 to 60 cm), sometimes reaching 36 inches (90 cm). It develops straight, cylindrical boles that may be clear of branches 50 to 60 feet (15 to 18 m) Blunting Effect Blunting effect on cutters is usually very severe because of high density and high silica content. Tungsten-tipped cutters are recommended in most machining operations Boring Fair to good results Carving Very Good to Excellent Results Cutting Resistance High levels of silica and high densities combine to make the wood very difficult to process Mortising Fair to Good Results Moulding Fair to Good Results Planing Fair to Good Results Planing, boring, moulding, turning, mortising, and other machining properties of Licania timbers are generally poor. Ordinary tools are dulled rapidly and severely because the dense timber also usually contains silica. Tungsten-tipped cutters are required in most machining operations Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Softwood can be easily treated Heartwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 15411 23672 psi Density 61 lbs/ft3 Hardness 3499 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 7007 11956 psi Stiffness 2573 2876 1000 psi Toughness 209 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.69 Weight 60 49. lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 7 % Tangential Shrinkage 11 % Volumetric Shrinkage 17 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1083 1664 kg/cm2 Density 977 kg/m3 Hardness 1587 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 492 840 kg/cm2 Stiffness 180 202 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 240 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.69 Weight 961 785. kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 7 % Tangential Shrinkage 11 % References CAOBA International, San Francisco, California. 1993. Personal Communication. Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.