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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. Comments Common Names Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Scientific Name Mammea americana Trade Name Abrico do para Family Name Guttiferae Common Names Abrico do para, Abricot, Abricot de Saint Domingue, Abricot des antilles, Abricot du pays, Abricoteiro, Abricotier, Abricotier d'Amerique, Apricot, Mamaja, Mamaya, Mamee, Mamey, Mamey amarillo, Mamey de cartagena, Mammee tree Regions of Distribution Central America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico Environmental Profile Widespread, abundant, and globally secure May be rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery Data source is Nature Conservancy Distribution Overview The mamey is native to the West Indies and northern South America. It was recorded as growing near Darién, Panama, in 1514, and in 1529 was included by Oviedo in his review of the fruits of the New World. It has been nurtured as a specimen in English greenhouses since 1735. It grows well in Bermuda and is quite commonly cultivated in the Bahama Islands and the Greater and Lesser Antilles. In St. Croix it is spontaneous along the roadsides where seeds have been tossed. In southern Mexico and Central America, it is sparingly grown except in the lowlands of Costa Rica, El Salvador and in Guatemala where it may be seen planted as a windbreak and ornamental shade tree along city streets, and is frequently grown for its fruit on the plains and foothills of the Pacific coast. Cultivation is scattered in Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana, Ecuador and northern Brazil. Heartwood Color Purple Black Brown Red Purplish brown Dull reddish Sapwood Color Paler than heartwood Color gradually merges into heartwood Grain Even Straight Generally straight, but not always Texture Fine Oily feel Medium Frequently covered with flecks of oily secretions from radial ducts Luster Low Natural Durability Very durable Durable Resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to marine borers Heartwood moderate resistance to decay Drying Defects Splitting Checking Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Tree Size Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Product Sources Some non-timber products from this species include an edible fruit. The firm but juicy yellow or reddish flesh of the fruit bes either consumed raw or cooked, and has an apricot flavor. The aromatic flowers are reported to be used sometimes to distill a type of liqueur, eau de creole or creme de creole in the West Indies. The bark yields a gum resin that is used to control pests. Comments Generally strong, hard, and heavy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Difficult to machine Polishing Fair to Good Results Strength Properties Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 19288 psi Maximum Crushing Strength 8840 psi Specific Gravity 0.74 Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1356 kg/cm2 Maximum Crushing Strength 621 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.74 References S.J. and Hess, R.W. 1943. Timbers of the New World. Published on the Charles Lathrop Pack Foundation, Yale University Press, New Haven CT.