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. Boring Carving Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Turning		Scientific Name Sweetia panamensis Trade Name Bilihuete Family Name Common Names Bilihuete, Chichipate, Coyote, Guayacan, Huesillo, Palo de Vaca Regions of Distribution Central America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Columbia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela Common Uses Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Construction, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Flooring, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Parquet flooring, Plain veneer, Railroad cars, Sculpture, Sub-flooring, Trimming, Veneer, Wainscotting, Woodwork Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rare Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The species occurs from southern Mexico to northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow White Darkens upon exposure Contains dark streaks Brown - olive Sapwood Color Brown Yellow White Yellow Well defined Grain Even Straight Interlocked or roey Texture Even Closed Figure Straight Wavy Distinct (figure) Medium to fairly high Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Very durable Moderately resistant to attack by marine borers Heartwood very resistant to dry-wood termites and powder-post beetles Good weathering properties Odor Sapwood has bitter taste No distinct odor or taste Kiln Schedules T2-C1 (8/4) US T2 - C2 (4/4-6/4) US Schedule B (4/4) United Kingdom Drying Defects Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Ease of Drying Dries easily with very little degrade Boring Fairly easy to very easy Good results Clean and smooth surfaces Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Stable Small Nailing Nailing properties are very poor Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Material with ribbon figure may pick-up Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Good response Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing is easy Sanding The sanding finish is generally good Screwing Excellent screw holding properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Easy to turn Polishing Excellent results Strength Properties Very heavy Density = very high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bilihuete is reported to be used locally for heavy construction because of its high strength and durability. The bitter inner bark, called cascara amarga, yields a fluid extract which is reported to be used to treat syphilis and scrofula since about 1880 Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 18571 24696 psi Density 61 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1715 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 7144 9496 psi Specific Gravity 0.77 Weight 61 50. lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1305 1736 kg/cm2 Density 977 kg/m3 Hardness 777 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 502 667 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.77 Weight 977 801. kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % References Perpetua Hardwoods. Sea Star Trading Co. - Purveyors of Fine Wood. Newport, Oregon. Personal Communication, 1993. Record, S.J. and R.W. Hess. 1943. Timbers of the New World. Published on the Charles Lathrop Pack Foundation, Yale University Press, New Haven CT.