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. Blunting Effect Boring Certified Source Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing 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 Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Piscidia communis Trade Name Alejo Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Alejo, Anipak, Barbasco, Barbasco jancu, Cahurica, Chijel, Chijol, Churicua, Cocuile, Cocuite, Colorin de peces, Flor de papagayo, Habi, Habim, Habin, Jabin, Jamguijy, Jancu, Matapescado, Matapiojo, Nexcuahuitl, Palo blanco duro, Peonia, Piscidia, Scaak'an-kihui, Talzunyo, Tatzungo, Tucuy, Tzijol, Zatzumbo Regions of Distribution Central America, North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Mexico, United States Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Furniture, Joinery, Plywood, Railroad ties Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Orange Purple Black Pink Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Green/Grey White to yellow Well defined Grain Interlocked Figure Growth rings (figure) Interlocked Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Medium Even or uniform Uniform Medium Luster Medium Slightly lustrous Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Whitish deposits in vessels Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Odor Has an odor Drying Defects Distortion Ring Shakes Internal Honeycombing Possible Uneven Moisture Content Checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Medium to High Shrinkage Moderately Difficult to Difficult Moderate Easy Tree Size Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 50-60 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm Trunk diameter is 300-350 cm Certified Source Certified Source Blunting Effect Little Boring Very good to excellent results Fairly easy to very easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Readily Sanding Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Difficult to veneer Veneers moderately easy Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Surface Preparation Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Hardness (side grain) = very hard Hardness (side grain) = hard Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11442 17761 psi Hardness 2628 lbs Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 804 1248 kg/cm2 Hardness 1192 kg Radial Shrinkage 3 % References Echenique-Manrique, R., Diaz Gomez, V.,1969,Algunas Caracteristicas Technologicas de la Madera de once Especies,Mexicanas. (Some technological characteristics of the wood of eleven,Mexican species.,Inst. Nac. Inv. For. Mexico Boletin Tecnico,27 Gomez-Vazquez, B.G.,1981,Wood structure and potential end uses of some lesser known Mexican timber,species,Thesis for Msc. Univ. Wales Bangor Pennington, T.D., Sarukhan, J.,1968,Manual para la Identificacion de campo de los Principales Arboles,Tropicales de Mexico,Inst. Nac. Inv. For. Mexico