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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 Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Ocotea canaliculata Trade Name Apici Family Name Lauraceae Synonyms Ocotea grisbachiana, Ocotea scrobiculata, Oreodaphne cayennensis, Laurus canaliculatus, Laurus caroliniana Common Names Apici, Cedre, Hariraro shirvaballi, Heburu, Ileng, Laurier petite-feuille, Pisie, Sawariskin, Silverballi, White silverballi, White sweetwood Regions of Distribution Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] French Guiana, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Concrete formwork, Door, Food containers, Furniture, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Matches, Musical instruments: percussion, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Turnery, Veneer Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Red Black Green/grey White to cream Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Greenish to greyish Brown Sapwood Color Green/Grey Red Brown Yellow Same as heartwood White to yellow Paler than heartwood Grain Straight Figure Closed Even Wavy Other (figure) Straight Wavy Other figure Texture Medium Fine Uniform Even or uniform Medium Luster Medium Slightly lustrous Lustrous Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Very durable Non-resistant to termites Durable Non-durable Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to marine borers Perishable Moderately durable Durable Non durable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Odor Has an odor Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Some toxic effects Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Rapidly Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Thick Stock Requires Care Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Drying rate is slow Slow Very slow Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 300-350 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Blunting Effect Little Moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Holds nails well Holds satisfactorily Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Resistance to Splitting Satisfactory Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Turns with moderate ease Finish is generally satisfactory Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy Good gluing qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Suitable for peeling No steaming needed during bolt preparation. Moderately easy to veneer Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Finish is generally good Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6111 9589 psi Density 30 lbs/ft3 Stiffness 1665 1923 1000 psi Weight 29 25 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 429 674 kg/cm2 Density 480 kg/m3 Stiffness 117 135 1000 kg/cm2 References Bena, P.,1960,Essences Forestieres de Guyane,Bureau Agricole et Forestier Guyanais Guyana 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 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 France - C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France Guyana Forestry Department,1951,British Guiana Timbers - White Silverballi,British Guiana Forestry Department Leaflet No.12 Marshall, R.C.,1934,Trees of Trinidad and Tobago,Government Printer Port of Spain Trinidad 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