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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Piratinera guianensis Trade Name Amourette Family Name Moraceae Synonyms Brosimum aubletii, Brosimum guianensis Common Names Amourette, Basri letri, Bois d'amourette, Bois de lettres, Bourra courra, Bourracourra, Boutous, Burokoro, Burracura, Cacique carey, Cangica parira, Casique care, Gamelleira preta, Gateado, Gatia, Gespikkeld letterhout, Guaimaro, Kapeweri letri, Koeloero, Leopard wood, Leopardwood, Letri, Letterhout, Letterwood, Lettre de chine, Lettre mouchete, Lignum literatum, Manletri, Marequende, Muirapenima, Palo do oro, Pao tartarugo, Piratiner, Roode letterhout, Satine gris, Satine rouge, Slangenhout, Snakewood, Speckled wood, Tibicusi, Tibikuski, Tibokushi, Tortoiseshell wood Regions of Distribution Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Fishing rods, Furniture, Handles: general, Joinery, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: percussion, Musical instruments: strings, Plywood, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Turnery, Veneer: decorative, Walking sticks Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow White Purple Black Orange Reddish brown Brown, red, dark reddish brown with nearly black stripes after prolonged exposure Black Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Green/Grey White to yellow Well defined Grain Straight Figure Even Stripe (figure) Other (figure) Straight Figure Occurrence is variable Striped figure Other figure Irregular color Texture Fine Medium Fine Luster Medium Lustrous Pronounced Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Very durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Toxicity Respiratory effects Dermatitic effects Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Moderate collapse and honeycombing Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Thick Stock Requires Care Rapidly Slowly Moderately Difficult to Difficult Variable results. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Naturally dries at a moderate speed Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 20-30 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species has a high potential as a source of valuable timber. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly difficult to very difficult Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult Possible if prebored Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Difficult to machine Moderate working qualities Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Difficult to screw Turning Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing Easy to cut Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Very poor Poor Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Satisfactory results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = >75 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 14597 21597 psi Density 67 lbs/ft3 Weight 66 57 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1026 1518 kg/cm2 Density 1073 kg/m3 Weight 1057 913 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % References 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 Britton, N.L., Millspaugh, C.F.,1920,The Bahama Flora,Britton & Millspaugh,New York Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series 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 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 Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207 Martin-Lavigne, E.,1909,Recherches sur les Bois de la Guyane,Vigot Freres Paris Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1940,American Woods of the Family Moraceae,Tropical Woods,8(61,pp11-54 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 Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition Vink, A.T.,1965,Surinam Timbers,Surinam Forest Service Paramaribo,3rd rev. ed. Wolcott, G.N.,1950,An Index to the Termite Resistance of Woods,Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Puerto Rico Bulletin,No.85 Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13