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. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments 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 Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Tabebuia donnell-smithii Trade Name Primavera Family Name Bignoniaceae Synonyms Cybistax Donnel Common Names Campeche, Chiapas, Copal, Cortez, Cortez blanco, Duranga, Durango, Flor de zope, Oaxaca, Palo blanco, Pequia marfim, Prima vera, Prima vera mahogany, Primavera, Roble, San Juan, Tabasco, White mahogany Regions of Distribution Central America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua Common Uses Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling , Paneling, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Trimming, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The geographical distribution of Primavera includes Central America, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. The trees are reported to thrive on moist, rich soils, but have also adapted to dry areas. Heartwood Color Brown Purple Yellow Black Red Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Pale brown Pale yellow Darkens to yellowish rose with red, orange, and brown stripes Primavera is reported to resemble Ceylon satinwood in appearance Sapwood Color Yellow White Brown Green/Grey Green Same as heartwood Paler than heartwood White to yellow Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Figure Interlocked Straight Stripe (figure) Other (figure) Mottled (figure) Closed Even Distinct (figure) Fiddleback (figure) Crossed Ribbon (figure) Rippled (figure) Wavy Variable (figure) Interlocked Straight Striped figure Other figure Mottled figure Wavy Variable figure Straight to interlocked Rippled figure Ribbon figure Ribbon figure alternate between light and dark bands depending on alignment of fiber Figure shows fiddleback occasionally Figure shows "rain drop" occasionally Distinct figure Crossed Exhibits a ribbon figure which can alternate between light and dark due to the shifting in alignment of bands of fiber at regular intervals. The bands are also reported to dissect further into a wide variety of cross-figures, of which mottle, rain-drop and narrow fiddle-back are the most common. Texture Medium Fine Coarse Medium to coarse Medium Fine to medium Medium to fairly course Coarse Luster Pronounced Lustrous Fairly lustrous Natural Durability Durable Non-durable Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to termites Non-resistant to termites Moderately durable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Non durable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Heartwoood susceptible to beetle attack Heartwood is vulnerable to pin-hole borer attack Heartwood has very little resistance to decay Good weathering properties Durable Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast T6 - F3 (4/4) US Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Case Hardening Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking No surface checking Slight spring/bow No end splitting No cupping, generally Shrinkage tends to be slight No twisting or warping Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Easy Dries easily with very little degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 0-10 m Plantation trees are reported to mature to marketable sizes in 20 to 35 years. Product Sources Primavera trees are grown also in plantations. Most of the material on the US market is believed to come from Guatemala, where the law requires Primavera logs to be processed and exported in lumber and veneer forms only. Supplies are scarce in the veneer form, but are somewhat available in lumber form in the United States. The material is priced in the costly range. Exports to Europe are very rare. The value and marketability of the material is dictated by the time of year the tree is felled: the sap of the tree rises and fall with the phases of the moon, and the best product is from trees felled in 'the dark of the moon', when the sap is low. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Harvesting tree at suggested period reduces sap exudation from log ends It is recommended that the tree be felled in 'the dark of the moon', since unlike trees in the temperate regions, the sap rises and falls with the phases of the moon instead of in winter and spring. Sap attracts insects that may damage the timber Sap content is reported to depend upon the time of yeat the tree is felled Subsituted for hard woods because it works easily in most machining operations Blunting Effect High to severe Medium effect Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Easy Good results Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting resistance with dry wood is moderate Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good moulding properties Movement in Service Small Stable Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Thin boards are prone to split Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Ease of planing is moderate Reducing cutting angle prevents tearing in interlocked areas Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Sapwood is modertely permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Poorly Easy to machine Good response Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Routing characteristics are good Sanding Sanding characteristics are good Screwing Pre-boring recommended Thinner stock requires carefull screwing to avoid splitting Good screw holding properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to turn Material with interlocked grain should be avoided Good results Fairly good response to preservative treatment Veneering Qualities No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Easy to cut Steam Bending Seldom used for steam bending applications Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Good results Excellent results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Stains well Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results