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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. Certified Source Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Light-Induced Color Change Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Scientific Name Ocotea wachenheimii Trade Name Apici Family Name Lauraceae Synonyms Ocotea arenaensis, Ocotea floribunda Common Names Apici, Atomahoko, Canela, Cedre gris, Hard kereti, Kereti shiruaballi, Kereti silverballi, Maipaima, Mapwirtan, Pisi, Siduabari, Spicy laurier, Spicy laurier mattack, Spicy mattack, Tingui apici Regions of Distribution Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Coffins, Food containers, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Paneling, Plywood, Turnery, Walking sticks Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Heartwood Color Brown Yellow White Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color White Different than heartwood White to yellow Paler than heartwood Grain Figure Straight Other (figure) Even Interlocked Straight Other figure Interlocked Texture Fine Fine to medium Medium Fine Luster Pronounced Slightly lustrous Lustrous Natural Durability Perishable Moderately durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Odor Has an odor Light-Induced Color Change Darker Drying Defects Checking Distortion Slight twist/warp Ease of Drying Slowly Moderately Difficult to Difficult Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is not buttressed Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Gluing Easy to glue Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Resistance to Abrasion High Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Painting Good results Polishing Good results Staining Finish is generally good Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 4310 6606 psi Density 28 lbs/ft3 Hardness 319 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 2139 3916 psi Shearing Strength 882 psi Stiffness 1017 1199 1000 psi Weight 27 24 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 303 464 kg/cm2 Density 448 kg/m3 Hardness 144 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 150 275 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 62 kg/cm2 Stiffness 71 84 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 432 384 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % 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 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 Guyana Forestry Department,1951,British Guiana Timbers - Kereti silverballi,British Guiana Forestry Department Leaflet No. 11 Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207 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 Vink, A.T.,1965,Surinam Timbers,Surinam Forest Service Paramaribo,3rd rev. ed.