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. Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Luster Movement in Service Natural Durability Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Scientific Name Ocotea puberula Trade Name Apici Family Name Lauraceae Common Names Apici, Atomahoko, Cedre gris, Good kereti silverballi, Guaiaca blanco, Kereti silverballi, Maipaima, Mapwirtan, Pisi, Pisie, Siduabari, Silverballi, White guaiaca, Witte pisie, Zwart pisie Regions of Distribution Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Coffins, Furniture, Ladders, Plywood, Turnery, Walking sticks Heartwood Color Brown Purple Black Green/grey Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Pale red to pink Greenish to greyish Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Same as heartwood Paler than heartwood Grain Figure Even Other (figure) Straight Interlocked Straight Other figure Interlocked Texture Fine Medium Fine to medium Medium coarse to coarse Luster Low Lustrous Pronounced Natural Durability Durable Moderately durable Moderately durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Durable Drying Defects Checking Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Gluing Easy to glue Movement in Service Small Planing Fair to Good Results Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Painting Good results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 14597 21597 psi Density 26 lbs/ft3 Weight 25 23 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1026 1518 kg/cm2 Density 416 kg/m3 References 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 Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207 Tropical Timber Information Centre,1975,Purpleheart (Peltogyne Spp.,State University, New York TTIC Brief No.25 Vink, A.T.,1965,Surinam Timbers,Surinam Forest Service Paramaribo,3rd rev. ed.