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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Corrosive Properties
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
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Odor
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Substitutes
Synonyms
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Ocotea rodiaei

Trade Name
Greenheart

Family Name
Lauraceae

Synonyms
Nectandra leucantha, Nectandra rodiaei, Nectandra rodioei, Ocotea rodiaei, Ocotea rodiei


Wood Image 1

Common Names
Achiamandola, Bebeeree, Bebeereen, Bebeeru, Beberu, Beberubaum, Beberuboom, Beeberoe, Bibiju, Bibir, Bibira, Bibiri, Bibiro, Bibiroo, Bibiru, Bibirubaum, Biburu, Black greenheart, Brown greenheart, Bull forehead greenheart, Cipiri, Cogwood, Demerara, Demerara greenheart, Demerara groenhart, Detema, Geelhart, Greenheart, Groen hart, Groenhartboom, Gruenherzbaum, Grunherzbaum, Grunholz, Ispingo moena, Itauba, Itaube, Kevatuk, Kut, Kwatuk, Kwatuk sipu, Maratakka, Pakouli, Queenwood, Rora, Rora-ek, Sepeira, Sepeiro, Sepira, Sipira, Sipiri, Sipiroe, Sipu, Supeira, Torchwood, Tugui, Tugul, Viruviru, Wainop, White greenheart, Yellow greenheart

Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Bahamas, Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, Venezuela

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Barge fenders, Billiard-cue butts, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bobbins, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Construction, Decks, Docks, Dockwork, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Filter press plates, Fishing rods, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Lock gates, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Naval architecture, Picker sticks, Pile-driver cushions, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Raft floats, Rafts, Railroad ties, Shade rollers, Shuttles, Specialty items, Spindles, Spools, Sporting Goods, Stencil & chisel blocks, Structural work, Sub-flooring, Sucker rods, Tool handles, Turnery, Umbrella handles , Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wharf construction, Wheel spokes

Environmental Profile
Vulnerable
Abundant/Secure
Status unknown due to inadequate information
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center


Distribution Overview
The natural range of the species includes Guyana, Surinam, and Venezuela. It is also reported to occur from the Maroni region of western French Guyana to northern Brazil. Commercial quantities are found in the northern and central regions of Guyana

Heartwood Color
Brown
Black
Red
Green/grey
Greenish to greyish
Dark brown
Black
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale brown
Brown
Yellowish to greenish
Olive - light
Olive - dark
Light reddish-brown to yellowish-brown

Decayed or defective logs have a yellowish color.

Sapwood Color
Yellow
White
Red
Brown
Pink
White to yellow
Different than heartwood
Paler than heartwood
Pale yellow
Not clearly differentiated from the heartwood
Greenish tinge


Grain
Straight
Figure
Other (figure)
Interlocked
Distinct (figure)
Even
Closed
Wavy
Weak (figure)

Straight
Other figure
Interlocked
Distinct figure
Weak figure
Wavy
Straight to roey


Texture
Fine
Even or uniform
Uniform
Medium
Coarse
Fine
Fine to medium
Medium
Uniform
Medium coarse to coarse

Generally free from knots and other defects

Luster
Low
Lustrous


Natural Growth Defects
Gum and mineral deposits


Natural Durability
Susceptible to insect attack
Moderately durable
Non-durable
Very durable
Perishable
Non-resistant to termites
Resistant to termites
Resistant to powder post beetles
Very durable
Resistant to attack from marine borers
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles)
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Durable
Suitable for marine applications
Sapwood is vulnerable to attack by pinhole borers
Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log
Moderately resistant to marine borer attack
Heartwood has excellent resistance to pinhole borers, marine borers, and dry-wood termites

Greenheart is acidic, and has a slight corrosive effect on iron and iron compounds under moist conditions.

Odor
Seasoned material has no specific odor or taste


Corrosive Properties
Non-corrosive


Toxicity
Unspecified toxicity
Respiratory effects
Non-toxic
Sawdust can cause irritation in some individuals

Wood splinters are also poisonous.

Kiln Schedules
Dry at a slow speed
UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow
UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3
T2 - C2 (4/4); T2 - C1 (8/4) US
Schedule B - United Kingdom
Drying (speed) is fast
Dry at a moderate speed


Drying Defects
Checking
Splitting
Distortion
Internal Honeycombing Possible
Moderate end spitting
Moderate surface checking
Slight twist/warp
Severe surface checking
Severe end splitting
Moderate twist/warp
Slight surface checking
Slight end splitting

Degrade can be considerable especially in thick material. Warping is slight but the material has a marked tendency to check and end-split. Existing shakes may extend and knots may split.

Ease of Drying
Slowly
Rapidly
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Difficult
Moderate
Easy
Dries slowly with some degrade

Thicker stock (over 1 inch or 25 mm) should be air-dried before kiln drying.

Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries slowly
Very slow
Drying rate is slow
Naturally dries quickly
Naturally dries at a moderate speed
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 not buttressed
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is cylindrical


Tree Size
Tree height is 20-30 m
Sapwood width is 5-10 cm
Sapwood width is 0-5 cm
Tree height is 0-10 m
Tree height is 10-20 m
Bole length is 10-20 m
Tree height is 30-40 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm


Large evergreen trees with unbutressed base

Product Sources
The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced at a regular rate. Exportation is also regular.

Greenheart is marketed principally in Europe, with only limited quantities coming to the US market. It is available only in the lumber form from a few principal importers, and is typically priced in the expensive range.

Substitutes
The following species in the database is superior to Greenheart Tonka (Dipteryx odorata) is similar in all properties except hardness and strength in tension perpendicular to grain.

Bulletwood (Manilkara bidentata) is equal or superior to Greenheart in resistance to shock, hardness, shear strength, and strength in bending:

Okan (Cylicodiscus gabunensis) is also a possible substitute.

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

General finishing qualities are rated as poor

Blunting Effect
Moderate
High to severe
Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe
Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe
Moderate to high blunting effect on cutting edges
Blunting effect on machining is moderate


Boring
Fairly difficult to very difficult
Fair to good results


Carving
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Poor carving characteristics


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult

Cutting resistance is generally high, and logs tend to split with considerable force and noise in the initial stages of sawing. To prevent this a chain is usually wrapped around the sawed section of the log.

Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to glue
Good gluing properties
Difficult to glue


Mortising
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results


Moulding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fair to Good Results
Difficult moulding qualities

The timber is difficult to work in moulding, mortising, boring, and routing operations. End grain material is liable to break out or splinter. Splinters are poisonous

Movement in Service
Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement
Medium

Seasoned timber is reported to undergo moderate dimensional changes in response to fluctions in atmospheric conditions.

Nailing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Pre-Boring Recommended
Possible if prebored
Pre-boring recommended
Nails hold poorly
Difficult to nail


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Very Good to Excellent Results
Ease of planing is moderate
Easy to plane
Special attention required
Planes well, to a good finish

A reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended for planing because of interlocked grain and high density.

Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Permeable sapwood
Resistant sapwood
Heartwood is extremely resistant
Poor response to preservative treatment


Response to Hand Tools
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Easy to Work
Difficult to machine
Moderate working qualities
Easy to machine


Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Screwing
Pre-boring recommended


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Easy to turn
Very good
Difficult to turn

The wood is not recommended for turnery work.

Veneering Qualities
Suitable for peeling
Veneers easily
Suitable for slicing
Veneers moderately easy
No drying degrade
No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting
Easy to cut
Suitable for slicing
Difficult to glue


Steam Bending
Fair to Good Results
Moderate
Good
Moderate

Greenheart has moderate steam bending properties but it is not recommended for that application.

Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Satisfactory results

The timber polishes to a lustrous finish.

Staining
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Staining is seldom required

Varnishing
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Strength Properties
Max. crushing strength = very high
Bending strength (MOR) = very high
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high
Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft
Hardness (side grain) = hard
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Bending strength (MOR) = high
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high
Hardness (side grain) = very hard
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Shrinkage, Volumetric = large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high
Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Max. crushing strength = high
Very heavy
Very hard
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very high
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high
Density (dry weight) = >75 lbs/cu. ft
Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft
Crushing strength = high
Bending strength (MOR) = medium

Greenheart is two times harder than Oak, two times stronger in bending, compression parallel to grain, and resistance to shock, and more than twice as stiff.

Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1947626150psi
Density63lbs/ft3
Hardness2593lbs
Impact Strength4559inches
Maximum Crushing Strength999013250psi
Shearing Strength2353psi
Stiffness269632411000 psi
Work to Maximum Load1322inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.750.95
Weight6150lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage7%
Tangential Shrinkage9%
Volumetric Shrinkage15%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength13691838kg/cm2
Density1009kg/m3
Hardness1176kg
Impact Strength114149cm
Maximum Crushing Strength702931kg/cm2
Shearing Strength165kg/cm2
Stiffness1892271000 kg/cm2
Work to Maximum Load0.911.54cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.750.95
Weight977801kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage7%
Tangential Shrinkage9%

References
Amos, G.L.,1951,Some siliceous timbers of British Guiana,Caribbean Forester (3; 4) 133-7, 139-40.

Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48

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

Bodig, J. and B. A. Jayne. 1982. Mechanics of Wood and Wood Composites. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York.

Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia

Bond, C.W.,1950,Colonial Timbers,Sir Issac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Chichignoud, M., G. Deon, P. Detienne, B. Parant and P. Vantomme. 1990. Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne, CEDEX, France.

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods - Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London

Constantine, Jr., A. J. 1959. Know Your Woods - A Complete Guide to Trees, Woods, and Veneers. Revised Edition. Revised by H.J. Hobbs. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.

Cox, H.A.,1939,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough

Edmondson, C.H.,1949,Reaction of Woods from S.America and Caribbean areas to Marine Borers in,Hawaiian Waters,Caribbean Foresters,10(1,PP37-41

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

Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO

Findlay, W.P.K.,1975,Timber: Properties and Uses,Crosby Lockwood Staples London,224PP

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1954,Hardwoods for Industrial Flooring,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Leaflet, No.48

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38

Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment

Guna et al, S.R.D.,1945,Notes on British Guiana Timbers,The 'Daily Chronicle' Ltd. Printers,28PP

Guyana Forestry Department,1951,British Guiana Timbers - Determa (Ocotea rubra,British Guiana Forestry Department Leaflet,7,4pp

Guyana Forestry Department,1951,British Guiana Timbers - Greenheart (Ocotea rodiaei,British Guiana Forestry Department Leaflet No.2

Harrar, E.S.,1942,Some Physical Properties of Modern Cabinet Woods 3. Directional and Volume,Shrinkage,Tropical Woods,9(71, pp26-32

HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer, Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.

I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting

Kline, M. 1980. Ocotea rodiaei - Greenheart. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 250-251.

Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125

Kynoch, W., Norton, N.A.,1938,Mechanical Properties of certain tropical woods chiefly from S. America,School of Forestry and Conservation, University of Michigan Bulletin,No.7

Lavers, G. M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.

Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50)

Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.

Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207

Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press

Polak, A.M.,1992,Major Timber Trees of Guyana A Field Guide,The Tropenbos Foundation Wageningen, The Netherlands

Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1942,American Timbers of the Family Lauraceae,Tropical Woods,69,pp7-33

Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press

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Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London

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Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T.

Slooten van der, H.J., Martinez, E.P.,1959,Descripcion y propiedades de algunas madeiras Venezolanas,Inst. for Lation Americano de Investigacion y Capaciticion Boletin,Informaturo Dirulgaturo

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.

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