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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 Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Weathering Scientific Name Prosopis juliflora Trade Name Acacia de Catarina Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Mimosa juliflora, Neltuma juliflora, Prosopis chilensis, Ceratonia chilensis Common Names Acacia de Catarina, Algaroba, Algarobillo, Algarrabo pardo, Algarrobo, Algarrobo amarillo, Algarrobo blanco, Algarrobo colorado, Algarrobo del Brazil, Algarrobo mezclado, Algarrobo morado, Algarrobo negro, Algorobo, Alpataco, Aroma, Aroma Americana, Barba tigre, Barbasco, Bate, Bayahon, Bayahonda, Bayarone, Bohahunda, Caixa, Calden, Cama-tala, Cambron, Caobano gateado, Carbon, Cashaw, Catzimek, Ceji, Chachaca, Chucata, Churqui, Coji, Common mezquite, Cuida, Cuji, Cuji carora, Cuji negro, Cuji yaque, Cupesi, Espinillo, Ganda babool, Guatapana, Guisache, Honey mezquite, Honey pod, Honey-locust, Ibope moroti, Ibope pyita, Ibope saiyu, Ibopehu, Indjoe, Indju, Ironwood, Iscayante, Ischilin, Itin, Jacaranda, Jacaranda palo lanza, Kuigi, Lamar, Manca-caballo, Mancacaballa, Mescrew, Mesquite, Mesquite tree, Mezquite, Mezquite amarillo, Mezquite blanco, Mezquite chino, Mezquite colorado, Misquitl, Nacascol, Nacascolote, Nandubay, Plumo de oro, Quentitacu, Qui, Quilin, Retorten, Screwbean, Screwbean mesquite, Screwpod mesquite, Tatane, Tepemezquite, Thacco, Tintatico, Tornillo, Trupillo, Ttahi, Tziritzequa, Vallahonda, Vilayati babool, Vilayati jhand, Vilayati khejra, Vinal, Visnal, Visnal tartagal, Wawahi, Yaque Regions of Distribution Africa, Central America, Latin America, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ghana, Hawaii [US], India, Kenya, Mexico, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, Sudan, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United States, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Charcoal, Door, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Mine timbers, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Shingles, Sporting Goods, Structural work, Tables, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Red Dark brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Purple Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Well defined Grain Straight Figure Closed Even Other (figure) Wavy Interlocked Straight Wavy Other figure Interlocked Texture Medium Coarse Coarse Medium to coarse Luster Medium Lustrous Natural Durability Durable Very durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Very durable Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Weathering Excellent Toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Distortion Checking No surface checking Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries quickly Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Good results Satisfactory results Poor results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Toughness-Hammer drop (impact strength) = very high Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = very high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Hardness (side grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 14342 21437 psi Density 50 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2299 lbs Impact Strength 61 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 7944 11159 psi Shearing Strength 2090 psi Stiffness 1637 1887 1000 psi Weight 49 39 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1008 1507 kg/cm2 Density 801 kg/m3 Hardness 1042 kg Impact Strength 154 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 558 784 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 146 kg/cm2 Stiffness 115 132 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 785 624 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % 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 Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory 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 Nation Research Council,1980,Firewood Crops Shrub and Tree Species for Energy Production,National Academy of Sciences, Washington D.C. Ramesh, Rao K., Purkayastha, S.K.,1972,Indian Woods - Their Identification Properties and Uses,Dehra Dun India,Vol. 3 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 Record, S.J.,1927,Trees of Honduras,Tropical Woods,10, pp10-47 Schiffino, J.,1945,Riqueza Forestal Dominicana (Three volumes,Secretaria de Estado de Agric. Ind. y Trabajo Sekhar, A.C., Rawat, N.S.,1960,A note on the mechanical properties of Prosopis juliflora,Indian Forester 86(8) pp485-87 Streets, R.J.,1962,Exotic Forest Trees in the British Commonwealth,Clarendon Press Oxford Swabey, C.,1941,The Principal Timbers of Jamaica,Department of Science and Agriculture Jamaica Bulletin No.29 Wolcott, G.N.,1950,An Index to the Termite Resistance of Woods,Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Puerto Rico Bulletin,No.85 Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13