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Blunting Effect Boring Carving Certified Source Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Weathering		Scientific Name Simarouba glauca Trade Name Marupa Family Name Simaroubaceae Synonyms Simarouba medicinalis, Simaruba amara, Simaruba officinalis Common Names Aceitillo, Aceituna, Aceituno, Aceituno negrito, Bitter dam, Bitter damson, Bitter dan, Bitterwood, Boarwood, Bois blanc, Bois frene, Caixeta, Cedro amargo, Cedro blanco, Chiriuna, Cuna, Daguillo, Damsel, Frene, Gall tree, Gavilan, Guitarro, Gusano, Jocote, Jocote de mico, Jucumico, Malacacheta, Marouba, Maruba, Marupa, Mountain damson, Negrito, Olive amargo, Olivo, Paljul'te, Palo amargo, Palo blanco, Paradise tree, Parahyba, Paraiba, Pasa-ak, Pasac, Pasaque, Pau parahyba, Rabo de lagarto blanco, Roblecillo, Simarouba, Simaruba, Simarupa, Soemaroeba, Stavewood, Tamanqueira, X-pasak-il, Xpasak, Xpazakil, Zapatero Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Suriname, United States, Venezuela Common Uses Blockboard, Boxes and crates, Cooperages, Furniture components, Furniture, Interior construction, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Moldings, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Packing cases, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Toys, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The species occurs in Central and South America. It grows in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, French Guyane, Peru, Surinam, Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Orange Purple White to cream Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to yellowish-white Pale brown Sapwood Color Yellow White Brown Pink Orange Same as heartwood Not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Figure Weak (figure) Even Rippled (figure) Straight Weak figure Rippled figure Texture Fine Medium Resinous and oily Very fine Medium Oily streaks Coarse Coarse to medium Luster Low Pronounced Lustrous High Natural Durability Very durable Durable Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to marine borers Non durable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Heartwood susceptible to attack by decay fungi Very little or no natural resistance to attack by decay fungi and wood destroying insects Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Prone to blue stain Not readily attacked by insects Weathering Excellent Odor Has an odor No distinct odor or taste Bitter, quinne-like taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Drying Defects Checking Distortion Splitting Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Slight twist/warp Slight tendency to distort and check Moderate end spitting Liable to stain Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Thick Stock Requires Care Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Air dries rapidly, with little degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Kiln drying rate (green to 12% mc) is rapid, typically from less than 10 days for a board under 32 mm, to less than 30 days for a board 63 mm and thicker. Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is a regular source of timber. Small quantities are exported from the producing countries. Certified Source Certified Source Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Dulls cutting edges very slightly Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Internal stresses in trees may cause logs to split during sawing Fairly easy to saw Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Surface Preparation Easy to glue Good gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Medium Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Planes and works well in other machining operations Machines with very little difficulty Clean, finished surfaces Can be planed to a smooth finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is permeable Responds very well to preservative treatment Good absorption properties Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Screwing Pre-boring recommended Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to screw Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy No drying degrade Suitable for peeling Easy to cut Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Painting Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Responds well to polishing Grain filling after sanding is reported to give the best surface finishing results Staining Fair to Good Results Finish is generally good Varnishing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Strength Properties Shrinkage, Radial = very small 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Very small Shrinkage, Volumetric = very small Mor/Bending strength = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Max. crushing strength = low The bending strength of the species is considered medium, being much weaker than White oak or Teak in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). It is weak in compression parallel to grain (maximum crushing strength), and is inferior to Mahogany. It is of average, or medium, density. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6111 9822 psi Density 29 lbs/ft3 Hardness 319 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 2139 4608 psi Shearing Strength 882 psi Stiffness 1358 1409 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.37 Weight 33 27 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Volumetric Shrinkage 6 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 429 690 kg/cm2 Density 464 kg/m3 Hardness 144 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 150 323 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 62 kg/cm2 Stiffness 95 99 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.37 Weight 528 432 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % References Belize,1946,42 Secondary Hardwood Timbers of British Honduras,British Honduras Forest Department Bulletin,No.1 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1952,Simarouba,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.26,pp389-92 Brazier, J.D., Franklin, G.L.,1967,An Appraisal of the Wood Characteristics and Potential Uses of some,Nicaraguan Timbers,FAO for Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Britton, N.L., Millspaugh, C.F.,1920,The Bahama Flora,Britton & Millspaugh,New York Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Flores Rodriguez, L.J.,1969,Description Caracteristicas y usos de 25 Maderas tropicales,Mexicanas,Camera Nacional de la Industria de la Construccion Serie Maderas de Mexico Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara Hess, R.W., Wangaard, F.F., Dickinson, F.E.,1950,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 2,Tropical Woods,13(97,pp1-132 Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. ITTO. 1986. Tropical Timber Atlas, Volume 1 - Africa. Prepared for International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) by Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, Division of CIRAD, 45bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex, France. Kukachka, B.F.,1960,Marupa (Simarouba amara Aubl.,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Foreign Wood Series No.1956 (Revised) Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125 Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207 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 Reyes, L.J. 1938. Philippine Woods. Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Technical Bulletin 7, Commonwealth of the Philippines, Bureau of Printing, Manila. Schulz, H., Grotthuss, O.K.N. von,1969,Investigacion de Algunas Especies Arboreas de los Bossques Tropicales de,Mexico (tercera parte,Mexico y sus Bosques,3(25,pp4-22 Swabey, C.,1941,The Principal Timbers of Jamaica,Department of Science and Agriculture Jamaica Bulletin No.29