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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 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 Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Mora excelsa Trade Name Mora Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Dimorphandra excelsa, Dimorphandra guianensis, Dimorphandra mora Common Names Alcornoque, Belarbre, Black mora, King tree, Mahot rouge, Mora, Mora bucquia, Mora de gulayana, Mora de guyana, Mora peto, Mora-yek, Moraballi, Moraboekea, Morabukea, Morade-guyana, Moreira, Muro, Nato, Nato rojo, Palaloea, Parakaua, Perakaua, Peto, Peto prakowa, Pracuuba, Pracuuba branca, Pracuuba vermelha, Prakue, Red mora, Roode, Roode more, Torore, White mora, Witte mora Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Charcoal, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Piling, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Wharf construction, Wheels Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The species occurs widely in the Guianas, and less frequently in the Orinoco Delta of Venezuela. It is a dominant species on river levees and flood plains, and forms dense stands. Heartwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Orange Pink Green/grey Reddish brown Dark brown Dark brown Purple Brown Yellowish-Red brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Red Red - dark with light streaks Pale brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red White to yellow Well defined Different than heartwood Yellowish brown Paler than heartwood Grain Interlocked Straight Figure Rippled (figure) Other (figure) Even Closed Distinct (figure) Wavy Stripe (figure) Interlocked Straight Rippled figure Other figure Grain is variable Distinct figure Wavy Striped figure Texture Coarse Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Medium Fine to medium Fine Harsh to touch Luster High Lustrous Pronounced Medium to High Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Heartwood susceptible to marine borers Heartwood susceptible to dry-wood termite attack Heartwood resistant to attack by white rot and brown rot fungi Heartwood resistance is variable Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Odor Slightly sour odor Astingent tase Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2 Dry at a moderate speed T2 - C2 (4/4) US T2 - C1 (8/4) US Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow Drying Defects Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Slight surface checking Slight collapse and honeycomb Moderate cupping Severe twisting/warping Moderate end spitting Material with boxed heart is liable to split Improper stacking may cause warping Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Difficult Variable results. Moderate Stacking carefully and drying slowly yield best results Kiln Drying Rate Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 0-10 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 10-20 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber for local consumption. Export potential is rated as fair. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Blunting effect on sawing green wood is severe Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Boring Poor to very poor results Straight grained wood bores well Difficult Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with green wood is variable Cutting resistance with dry wood is variable Difficult but yields smooth surfaces Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Gluing Poor to Very Poor Results Mortising Poor to Very Poor Results Moulding Poor to Very Poor Results Difficult to mould Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Large Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Holds nails well Possible if prebored Easy to nail Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish The timber is reported to plane with moderate difficulty but straight-grained material produces smooth surfaces. Timber containing interlocked grain may chip and pick-up considerably. Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Difficult to machine Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Poor to Very Poor Results Moderately easy Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Easy to turn Good results Veneering Qualities No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Diifficult to veneer Steam Bending Moderate Good Painting Poor to Very Poor Results Polishing Poor to Very Poor Results Satisfactory results Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = high Max. crushing strength = very high