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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 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 Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability 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 Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Ocotea rubra Trade Name Determa Family Name Lauraceae Common Names Baaka, Bewana, Braloc, Cirouaballi, Determa, Grignon, Grignon franc, Grignon rouge, Grignon rougre, Ishpingo maraco, Laurier, Laurier canelle, Louro rojo, Louro rosa, Louro vermelho, Louru vermelho, Red louro, Surinam mahogany, Teteroma, Teteruma, Wana, Wane, Wanu Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago Common Uses Barge fenders, Beams, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building construction, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Decks, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Food containers, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Harbor work, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Joists, Light construction, Marine construction, Millwork, Moldings, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Roofing, Structural work, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The species occurs in the Guianas, Trinidad, and the lower Amazon region of Brazil. It grows on sandy or loamy soils in Guyana. Heartwood Color Brown Red White Yellow Pink Purple Orange Reddish brown Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink Pale reddish brown The color of the heartwood is described as light reddish-brown with a golden sheen Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Different than heartwood Well defined Yellowish brown Paler than heartwood Grey Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Straight Figure Distinct (figure) Other (figure) Interlocked Closed Even Wavy Stripe (figure) Straight Distinct figure Other figure Interlocked Wavy Striped figure An attractive figure is occasionally present on quartersawn surfaces Texture Fine Medium Coarse Fair to medium coarse Luster Medium Lustrous Pronounced Natural Durability Moderately durable Resistant to termites Very durable Perishable Resistant to marine borers Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Durable Resistant to attack from marine borers 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 Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Heartwood resist, particularly to attack by white rot Heartwood resistant to brown rot Heartwood moderately resistant to dry-wood termite attack Excellent weathering characteristics Resistance to marine-borers is rated as similar to that of teak Odor Seasoned material has no specific odor or taste Kiln Schedules Dry at a moderate speed UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Dry at a slow speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow T6 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US Schedule E - United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Checking Internal Honeycombing Possible Collapse Distortion Splitting Moderate surface checking Moderate twist/warp Slight surface checking Moderate end spitting Slight twist/warp Slight end splitting Moderate collapse and honeycombing No cupping, generally Slight spring/bow No twisting or warping Moderate spring/bow Moderate cupping May warp May check Air-Drying may cause the wood to check slightly and warp moderately. Kiln-drying may also cause the timber to check and warp. Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Difficult Moderate Easy Fairly difficult to dry Air dries at a moderate rate Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Slow Drying rate is slow Naturally dries at a moderate speed Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber. The timber is exported regularly, and is imported from Brazil into Venezuela, Germany, China, and Japan. Comments A lesser-known-species from tropical America. It is superior to yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) in tension and compression perpendicular to grain, and is close to white oak (Quercus alba) in static bending and compression parallel to grain. General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as poor Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Slight dulling effect on cutting tools Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Easy to glue Difficult to glue Very good properties Moulding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Small Medium Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Pre-Boring Recommended Easy to nail Holds nails well Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to plane Slight dulling effect on cutting edges Responds well to ordinary tools in mortising It planes, turns, bores, moulds, and mortises rather well. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Easy to machine Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Screwing Pre-boring recommended Easy to screw Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy Drying degrade is often moderate to severe, with collapse, buckles, and splilts Diifficult to veneer Steam Bending Moderate Good Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Fairly good polishing characteristics Staining Fair to Good Results Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Radial = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Hardness (side grain) = very soft Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low