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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 Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Luster Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Aniba ovalifolia Trade Name Gale silverballi Family Name Lauraceae Synonyms Aniba hypoglauca Common Names Gale silverballi, Garl, Kawioi, Kurero shiruaballi, Kurero silverballi, Moena puchiri, Silverballi, Yellow silverballi, Yellow sweetwood Regions of Distribution Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Guyana, Suriname Common Uses Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boat building: planking, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Paneling, Plywood, Turnery Heartwood Color Yellow Brown Orange Black Red Green/grey Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Greenish to greyish Dark brown Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Different than heartwood White to yellow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Straight Even Generally straight, but not always Texture Fine Medium Fine Medium Luster Medium Lustrous Natural Durability Durable Resistant to termites Perishable Resistant to marine borers Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Resistant to powder post beetles Durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Moderately durable Drying Defects Checking Slight surface checking Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is 10-20 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that almost negligible volumes of timber from this species are produced and exported. The following species in the database has been suggested as a potential substitute for Mecrusse: Muhuhu (Brachylaena hutchinsii) Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to turn Good results Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing Easy to cut Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Very good Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 38 lbs/ft3 Weight 37 30 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Density 608 kg/m3 Weight 592 480 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % 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 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 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 Guna et al, S.R.D.,1945,Notes on British Guiana Timbers,The 'Daily Chronicle' Ltd. Printers,28PP Guyana - Forest Department,1951,British Guiana Timbers - Yellow Silverballi,British Guiana Forestry Department Leaflet No. 13 Polak, A.M.,1992,Major Timber Trees of Guyana A Field Guide,The Tropenbos Foundation Wageningen, The Netherlands Wolcott, G.N.,1950,An Index to the Termite Resistance of Woods,Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Puerto Rico Bulletin,No.85