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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. Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Distribution Overview Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Luster Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Silica Content Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Scientific Name Pouteria izabalensis Trade Name Selillon Family Name Sapotaceae Common Names Abenbele, Acana, Asapoko, Atzapotl, Barata, Caniste, Canistel, Chico zapote, Huicon, Jacana, Jaune d'oeuf, Mamey cerera, Mamon, Nyolon, Sapote culebra, Selillon, Siguapa, Silillon, Ulozapote, Vaquetero, Zapote amarillo, Zapotillo Regions of Distribution Central America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Honduras Common Uses Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Clogs, Construction, Crossties, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Flooring, Foundation posts, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Mine timbers, Parquet flooring, Posts, Railroad ties, Stair rails, Stairworks, Stakes, Stringers, Windows Environmental Profile Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within parts of its range Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant in parts of its range Distribution Overview The species occurs in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. It grows in humid and very humid forests in the sub-tropics from sea level up to an elevation of about 980 feet (300 m). It prefers well drained soils, and is foun in the Atlantic, Colon, Cortes and Olancho regions in Honduras. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Purple Pink Orange Brown - rose Sapwood Color White/Cream Sapwood blends into heartwood Grain Closed Wavy Interlocked Occasionally interlocked, but not always Generally wavy Texture Medium Medium Luster Low Low Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Moderately resistant to decay Moderately resistant to attack by termites Odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content Likely to have significant impact on machining Contains very high levels of silica (<2.0% of dry weight) Ease of Drying Mild conditions recommended Dries slowly with considerable degrade Adequate air circulation is recommended for air seasoning Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Comments Generally hard and heavy Sharp cutting edges are essential Silica amount makes using machine tools difficult The wood is similar in properties to White oak (Quercus alba ) Planing Sharp cutting edges recommended Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Highly resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Difficult to machine Strength Properties Resists denting and marring Hardness (side grain) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Hardness 1606 lbs Specific Gravity 0.64 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Hardness 728 kg Specific Gravity 0.64 Radial Shrinkage 5 % References CAOBA International, San Francisco, California. 1993. Personal Communication. Ramos, R.F.B. and J.L.M. Lagos. 1988. Catologo de Cien Especies Forestales de Honduras : Distribucion, Propiedades y Usos. Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Forestales (ESNACIFOR, Siguatepeque, Honduras. Record, S.J. and R.W. Hess. 1943. Timbers of the New World. Yale University Press, New Haven CT.