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 Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Luster Movement in Service Natural Durability Numerical Data References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Persea americana Trade Name Abacate Family Name Lauraceae Synonyms Persea amplifolia, Persea edulis, Persea gratissima, Persea persea, Laurus persea Common Names Abacate, Aguacate, Aguacate oloroso, Aguacatillo, Ahuacate, Alligator pear, Amo, Anuacate, Aquacate chico, Aquacate de anis, Avocado, Avocado pear, Avocate, Avocatier, Boid d'anis, Bukra, Butter pear, Buvo, Canela rosa, Canela ruiva, Cupanda, Cura, Dikora, Hamo, Huirapalta, Koidium, Kuitkeip, Louro, On, Pagua, Pahuatl, Palto, Palto jeia, Peche marron, Sutuh, Tonalahuate, Ttalzan, Xinene, Yas, Zoboca Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico [US] Common Uses Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Plywood, Turnery Heartwood Color Yellow Red Pale red to pink Pale brown Brown Sapwood Color White to yellow Well defined Grain Figure Straight Other (figure) Even Straight Other figure Texture Fine Even or uniform Uniform Medium coarse to coarse Fine Fine to medium Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Durable Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Drying Defects Slight twist/warp Slight collapse and honeycomb No twisting or warping No collapse/honeycomb Ease of Drying Reconditioning Treatement Variable results. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Strength Properties Mor/Bending strength = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Medium Max. crushing strength = low 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6111 9589 psi Density 35 lbs/ft3 Hardness 995 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3027 5157 psi Shearing Strength 882 psi Stiffness 1131 1321 1000 psi Weight 34 27 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 429 674 kg/cm2 Density 560 kg/m3 Hardness 451 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 212 362 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 62 kg/cm2 Stiffness 79 92 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 544 432 kg/m3 References Acosta-Solis, M.,1960,Maderas Economicas del Ecuador y sus Usos,Editorial Casa de la Culhra Ecuatoriana Quito 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 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Little, E.L., Wadsworth, F.H.,1964,Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.249 Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98 Pennington, T.D., Sarukhan, J.,1968,Manual para la Identificacion de campo de los Principales Arboles,Tropicales de Mexico,Inst. Nac. Inv. For. Mexico 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 Record, S.J., Mell, C.D.,1924,Timbers of Tropical America,Yale Univ. Press