Search for

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. Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Licaria canella Trade Name Ajoewa Family Name Lauraceae Synonyms Acrodiclidium canella, Acrodiclidium cayennse, Acrodiclidium megacarpa, Licaria cayennensis Common Names Ajoewa, Apisie-ie, Atjarie, Badagos, Banda, Bois canelle, Brown silverballi, Canella, Cedre flibustier, Honohonoridan, Itiari tianari, Itik, Kamarai, Kaneel-pisie, Kaneelhart, Kanerie hoedoe, Kanerjoe, Kharemero, Kjanari, Laurier pulcherro, Magre hoedoe, Nagre hoedoe, Shinglewood, Shiruaballi, Silverballi, Siroeaballi tjanaria, Siroeballi tatarde, Sweetwood, Tiniari, Wabaima, Waibaima, Waitzama, Wajaaka Regions of Distribution Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boat building: planking, Bridge construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Decks, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Mathematical instruments, Musical instruments, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts Heartwood Color Brown Black Purple Yellow Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Dark brown Brown Red Purple White to cream Pale brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Green/Grey Pink White to yellow Paler than heartwood Grain Straight Figure Interlocked Even Other (figure) Straight Interlocked Other figure Texture Medium Fine Coarse Fine to medium Fine Medium Medium coarse to coarse Luster Low Medium Lustrous Slightly lustrous Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from marine borers Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Distortion Slight twist/warp Severe surface checking Slight surface checking Slight spring/bow Slight end splitting No twisting or warping No end splitting No cupping, generally Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Moderate Easy Difficult Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Difficult Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Gluing Difficult to glue Moderate gluing properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Medium Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes to a satisfactory finish Planes well, to a good finish Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Easy to turn Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Very good Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Max. crushing strength = very high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Work to Maximum Load = low Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = very hard Density (dry weight) = 53 - 60 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 14598 21597 psi Density 43 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2464 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 7996 11192 psi Shearing Strength 2204 psi Stiffness 2205 2562 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 9 12 inch-lbs/in3 Weight 48 42 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1026 1518 kg/cm2 Density 689 kg/m3 Hardness 1117 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 562 786 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 154 kg/cm2 Stiffness 155 180 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.63 0.84 cm-kg/cm3 Weight 769 673 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % References 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 Edmondson, C.H.,1949,Reaction of Woods from S.America and Caribbean areas to Marine Borers in,Hawaiian Waters,Caribbean Foresters,10(1,PP37-41 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 Guyana - Forest Department,1951,British Guyana Timbers - Brown Silverballi (Licaria canella,British Guiana Forestry Department Leaflet No. 10 Lamb, A.F.A., Wangaard, F.F.,1950,The Gluing Properties of certain Tropical American Woods,Yale Univ. School of Forestry Technical Report,4 Marshall, R.C.,1939,Silviculture of the trees of Trinidad and Tobago - British West Indies,O.U.P.,London Polak, A.M.,1992,Major Timber Trees of Guyana A Field Guide,The Tropenbos Foundation Wageningen, The Netherlands Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1942,American Timbers of the Family Lauraceae,Tropical Woods,69,pp7-33 Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Surinam Forest Service,1952,Surinam Timber - A Summary with brief descriptions of the main timber,species of Surinam,Surinam Forest Service Vink, A.T.,1965,Surinam Timbers,Surinam Forest Service Paramaribo,3rd rev. ed. Wangaard, F.F., et al,1954,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 4,Tropical Woods,14(99, pp1-187 Wolcott, G.N.,1950,An Index to the Termite Resistance of Woods,Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Puerto Rico Bulletin,No.85