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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. 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 Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Alexa imperatricis Trade Name Haiari Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Aroemata, Crook, Haiari, Haiariballi, Kapai, Koatoi, Leche de cochino, Neko-oudoo Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela Common Uses Boxes and crates, Construction, Furniture, Interior construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Status unknown in many of its growth areas Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Found in the Venezuelan Guiana, Guyana, Surinam, and the Brazilian Amazon region. Often dominant on the light-colored sands of the northwest and upper Mozaruni district and the Pakaraima Mountains in Guyana. Heartwood Color Yellow Red Brown Orange White Purple Green/grey Tan Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Yellowish tan White to cream Reddish brown Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color White Yellow Green/Grey White to yellow Straw colored to grayish-white Grain Straight Even Figure Weak (figure) Generally straight, but not always Weak figure Texture Coarse Medium Coarse Medium to coarse Luster Low Medium Slightly lustrous Lustrous Medium Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Durable Very durable Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Durable Very durable Susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Heartwood resistant to decay Freshly felled logs are vulnerable to attack by pin hole borers. Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Uk=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2/T2 - C2 (4/4); T2 - C1 (8/4) US UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2 T2 - C2 (4/4); T2 - C1 (8/4) US Schedule B (4/4) United Kingdom Schedule B (4/4) United Kingdom Drying Defects Splitting Internal Honeycombing Possible Collapse Moderate end spitting Collapse and honeycomb in heartwood is possible due to mineral stains and wetwood. Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 40-50 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Good (75+ pieces out of 100 will yield good to excellent results) Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moderate gluing properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finishes well Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good moulding properties Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Large Not stable/prone to move Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Holds satisfactorily Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes to a satisfactory finish Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is permeable Sapwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Responds well to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to sand Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Moderately easy to veneer There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Variable veneering qualities Suitable for peeling Good gluing qualities Difficult to glue Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity = moderate Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6911 10557 psi Density 32 lbs/ft3 Hardness 852 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5408 6866 psi Stiffness 1665 1826 1000 psi Toughness 116 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.32 Weight 31 26 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 485 742 kg/cm2 Density 512 kg/m3 Hardness 386 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 380 482 kg/cm2 Stiffness 117 128 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 133 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.32 Weight 496 416 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % 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 Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E,M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods:Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. 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 Forestry Department,1971,Know Your Woods - Haiariballi (Alexa imperatricis,Forest Department, Guyana Forest Industries Newsletter 1(2,p1 Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207 Polak, A.M.,1992,Major Timber Trees of Guyana A Field Guide,The Tropenbos Foundation Wageningen, The Netherlands Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Slooten, H.J. van der,1970,Evaluation Study of eighteen Wood Species from Guyana for Veneer and,Plywood Manufacture,Forest Industries Development Survey FAO Report SF/GUY9 Tech. Report,No.13,U.N.D.P. 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 WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.