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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 Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Ormosia monosperma Trade Name Baracara Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Amargo blanco, Baracara, Chocho, Jatobahy do igapo, Kokriki, Mekoe, Palo de matos, Peonio, Tento Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bahamas, Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico Common Uses Balusters, Bent Parts, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Ceiling, Chairs, Chests, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, General carpentry, Hatracks, Interior construction, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Millwork, Office furniture, Plain veneer, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stair rails, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Utility furniture, Veneer, Wainscotting, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Vulnerable Status within range has not been officially determined Distribution Overview Various species in the Ormosia genus are reported to occur in the Amazons, but may extend southward to São Paulo and northward to the West Indies, Central America and southern Mexico. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Pink White Orange Yellow/Brown Somewhat streaked Pinkish to reddish The heartwood is mostly salmon colored Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Yellowish Not always clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Figure Irregular Irregular Texture Coarse Even or uniform Uniform Medium Medium coarse to coarse Luster Medium Medium Natural Durability Moderately durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-durable Perishable Durable Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to termites Vulnerable to dry-wood termite attack Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Highly susceptible to attack by decay fungi Odor No specific smell or taste Drying Defects Distortion Discoloration Checking May warp and check slightly to moderately Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Air dry very slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Ize varies with species, but the trees attain a height of up to 100 feet (30 m), with a trunk diameter of16 to 28 inches (40 to 70 cm) Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fairly difficult to very difficult Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to carve Carved surfaces may be fuzzy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Timber produced by species in the genus are generally easy to saw Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Worked surfaces tend to be fuzzy and difficult to finish Results are rated from fair to good The timbers are easy to work in most operations, including planing, turning, moulding, boring, and mortising Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant Incising is recommended in stock with little end-grain exposure Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Steam Bending Unsuitable Poor to Very Poor Results Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Strength Properties Heavy Hardness = medium Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) is very high Other species in this range include Teak, White oak, and Hard maple. It resists denting and marring about as well as white oak or birch Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13240 15513 psi Density 43 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1259 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6390 8139 psi Stiffness 2019 1989 1000 psi Toughness 148 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.53 Weight 42 34. lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 930 1090 kg/cm2 Density 689 kg/m3 Hardness 571 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 449 572 kg/cm2 Stiffness 141 139 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 170 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.53 Weight 673 544. kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.