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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 Light-Induced Color Change 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 Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Tabebuia rosea Trade Name Roble Family Name Bignoniaceae Synonyms Tabebuia pentaphylla, Tecoma pentaphylla Common Names Afina, Amapa, Amapa rosa, Amape, Apamate, Apamate ocobo, Cambora, Caoba del brasil, Cortes, Cortez, Guayacan, Macuelizo, Macuil, Macuilis, Macuiliz, Maculez, Maculigua, Maculis, Maculiz, Maculiz prieto, Maculizo, Mano de leon, Maqueliz, Maquilgua, Maquiliqua, Maquiliz, Maria blanco, Matilisquate, Mayflower, Ocobo, Orum, Otovo, Palo blanco, Palo de rosa, Palo yugo, Pink poui, Pink trumpet tree, Poirier, Poirier du pays, Poirier rouge, Roble, Roble blanc, Roble blanco, Roble colorado, Roble de guyana, Roble de la america central, Roble de rio, Roble de savana, Roble de yugo, Roble flor morado, Roble morado, Rosa morada, Rosa morado, Taipoca, Warakuri, Weisse roble, West Indian boxwood, White cedar, Witte roble Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Bolivia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guadelope [France], Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Agricultural implements, Balusters, Beams, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Ceiling, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Decks, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Marine construction, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Oars, Paneling , Paneling, Particleboard, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Railroad ties, Shingles, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Widespread Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat Status unknown in many of its growth areas Rare in parts of its natural range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant This species is officially classified as Vulnerable within its natural habitat in Panama. Its status in the wild in Cuba, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela is listed as unknown because of insufficient information Distribution Overview Widely distributed in tropical America, and occurs from Mexico to northern South America and Ecuador. It occurs in a variety of habitats, but especially in somewhat swampy forests, from sea level to an altitude of about 3940 feet (1200 m). also widely cultivated. Heartwood Color Brown Purple Red Brown Greenish to greyish Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Dark brown Golden brown Chestnut - dark Sapwood Color Brown Pink Red White to yellow Same as heartwood Merges gradually into the heartwood Initially pale rose, then turns grayish brown upon exposure Grain Figure Straight Other (figure) Distinct (figure) Interlocked Stripe (figure) Wavy Closed Mottled (figure) Even Rays (figure) Straight Other figure Distinct figure Striped figure Interlocked Wavy Mottled figure Straight to interlocked Rays figure Texture Fine Even or uniform Medium to coarse Medium Medium to fairly course Fine Coarse Luster Low Lustrous Medium Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to marine borers Durable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Poor weathering properties Non durable Heartwood susceptible to marine borer attack Heartwood is susceptible to attack by dry-wood insects Heartwood has very little resistance to decay Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a moderate speed UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 T6 - D2 (4/4) US T3 - D1 (8/4) US Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking No surface checking Slight spring/bow Slight end splitting Slight cupping No twisting or warping No end splitting No cupping, generally Ease of Drying Reconditioning Treatement Easy Tolerates severe drying schedules Kiln dries well Dries at a moderate rate with little degrade. Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Product Sources It is one of the most widely distributed and abundant species in Central America. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Roble wood is suggested as a subsitute for Ash (Fraxinus spp.) and Oak (Quercus sapp.) Widely cultivated for ornamental trees Blunting Effect High to severe Slight Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Easy Excellent results Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very good response to preservative treatment Clean and smooth surfaces Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw Gluing Easy to glue Good gluing characteristics Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to mortise Very good mortising properties Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to mould Fairly good response to preservative treatment Movement in Service Small Nailing Possible if prebored Easy to nail Holds nails well Thicker boards require pre-boring Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Ease of planing is moderate Requires some care to prevent rough surfaces Planing properties are excellent Resistance to Impregnation Permeable Heartwood is permeable Penetration in the sapwood is total, but irregular, while it is partial, peripheral, and irregular in the heartwood. Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Good response Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Routing yields good results Routing characteristics are good Sanding The sanding finish is generally good Results improve with 100 grain sander Screwing Easy to screw Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to turn Good results Very good turning characteristics Veneering Qualities Easy to cut No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Material can converted into smooth and compact veneers Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Good Moderate Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Radial = very small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = low Work to Maximum Load = low Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Weight=High Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Resists wearing and marring Resists denting and marring Hardness (side grain) = medium Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) is high - comparable to Teak. Strength in compression parallel to grain is in the high range. Other species in this range include Teak, White oak, and Hard maple Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9665 13638 psi Density 39 lbs/ft3 Hardness 987 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 4843 7054 psi Shearing Strength 1494 psi Stiffness 1495 1677 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 10 12 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.51 Weight 39 30 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 679 958 kg/cm2 Density 624 kg/m3 Hardness 447 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 340 495 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 105 kg/cm2 Stiffness 105 117 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.70 0.84 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.51 Weight 624 480 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % References Belize,1946,42 Secondary Hardwood Timbers of British Honduras,British Honduras Forest Department Bulletin,No.1 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 Bodig, J. and B. A. Jayne. 1982. Mechanics of Wood and Wood Composites. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 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 Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 9 Central America and the Caribbean,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Caribbean Commission,1952,Information on properties of timbers gathered by questionnaire and,collated in the secretariat of the Caribbean Commission including some,related data from technical literature.,Caribbean Commission, Port of Spain, Trinidad Caribbean Timbers, their,Utilization and Trade within the area CTUTA/1/Doc.7 + App.1-18 Chichignoud, M., G. Deon, P. Detienne, B. Parant and P. Vantomme. 1990. Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne, CEDEX, France. Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Dickinson, F.E.,1949,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 1,Tropical Woods,13(95,pp1-140 Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Fors, A.J.,1949,Maderas Industriales de Colombia,Caribbean Forester,10(3,pp161-96 Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara Gomez-Vazquez, B.G.,1981,Wood structure and potential end uses of some lesser known Mexican timber,species,Thesis for Msc. Univ. Wales Bangor 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 Kryn, J.M.,1954,Roble blanco, Amapa, Mayflower (Tabebuia pentaphylla,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,Information Leaflet Foreign Woods,1980,10pp Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125 Kynoch, W., Norton, N.A.,1938,Mechanical Properties of certain tropical woods chiefly from S. America,School of Forestry and Conservation, University of Michigan Bulletin,No.7 Lamb, A.F.A., Wangaard, F.F.,1950,The Gluing Properties of certain Tropical American Woods,Yale Univ. School of Forestry Technical Report,4 Lang, W.G.,1954,Forest Utilization in Saint Lucia British West Indies,Caribbean Forester 15 pp120-3 Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207 Ojeda, S. 1990. Apamate. Serie Maderas Commerciales de Venezuela, Ficha Tecnica No. 17. 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Press Record, S.J.,1927,Trees of Honduras,Tropical Woods,10, pp10-47 Ribeiro, E.B.,1926,Amapa for Interior Trim and Flooring,Tropical Woods,1(8,pp8-9 Saks, E.V.,1954,Tropical Hardwoods for veneer Production in Mexico,Caribbean Forester,15(3&4, pp112-9 Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Slooten van der, H.J., Martinez, E.P.,1959,Descripcion y propiedades de algunas madeiras Venezolanas,Inst. for Lation Americano de Investigacion y Capaciticion Boletin,Informaturo Dirulgaturo Smith, E.E.,1954,The Forests of Cuba,Maria Moors Cabot Foundation,U.S.A. Publication, No. 2 Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4 Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd. Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA] U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72 Venezuela-Laboratories Nacional de Productos Forestates,1974,Caraderisticas, Propiedades y usos de 104 Maderas de los allos Ilanos,occidentales,Min. Ag. y Cria, Universidad de Los andes, Merida, Venezuela Lab.Nac. de,Prod. For. Villamil, F.G.,1971,Maderas Colombianas,Proexpo Colombia Wadsworth, F.H.,1943,Roble, a Valuable Forest Tree in Puerto Rico,Caribbean Forester,4(2,pp59-76 Wangaard, F.F., Chudnoff, M.,1950,The Steam Bending Properties of Certain Tropical American Woods,Yale Univ. School of Forestry Technical Report No. 6 Wangaard, F.F., Muschler, A.F.,1952,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 3,Tropical Woods,14(98, pp1-190 Wangaard, F.F.,1951,The Physical Properties of Tropical Woods,F.A.O. For. & For. Prod. Studies Series No.3 Tropical Woods and Ag.,Residues as sources of pulp,pp10-16 WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World, World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Plants Programme, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom. Wolcott, G.N.,1940,A List of the Woods arranged according to their resistance to the attack,of,the 'Polilla', the Dry-wood Termite of the West Indies, Cryptotermes,brevis Walker,Caribbean Forester,1(4,PP1-10 Wolcott, G.N.,1950,An Index to the Termite Resistance of Woods,Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Puerto Rico Bulletin,No.85 Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series