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 Certified Source 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 Painting Planing Polishing 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 Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Triplaris surinamensis Trade Name Long John Family Name Polygonaceae Common Names Bois fourmi, Formigueira, Fourmigueiro, Hormigo, Long John, Mierenhout, Palo hormiguero, Palo mulato, Palo santo, Santa maria, Tangarana, Vara de maria Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela Common Uses Boxes and crates, Building construction, Cabinetmaking, Construction, Cooperages, Fiberboard, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture, Interior construction, Joinery, Light construction, Mine timbers, Particleboard, Vats Environmental Profile Vulnerable Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Various species in the genus Triplaris are distributed from southern Mexico through Central America and tropical South America. They often grow predominantly in swamps and are also common on low riverbanks in Surinam. The trees are sometimes found in pure stands on abandoned clearings. Heartwood Color Yellow White Orange Red Brown Pale red to pink Pale brown Greenish to greyish Pinkish brown Grey brown Sapwood Color Red Yellow White Same as heartwood Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Interlocked Even Straight Interlocked Slightly interlocked Texture Fine Medium Medium coarse to coarse Medium Luster Medium High Lustrous Medium Natural Durability Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Resistant to termites Non-resistant to pinhole borers Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very little natural resistance against attack by decay fungi Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Heartwood is moderately susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules T6 - D2 (4/4) US Schedule E (4/4) United Kingdom Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Extension of Existing Shakes Ring Shakes Moderate warping and checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Moderately Difficult to Difficult Reconditioning Treatement Moderate Difficult Variable results. Depending upon species, drying rate may be fairly slow or rapid. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Tree Identification Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 0-10 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Triplaris trees are usually medium-sized, develop slightly angled or fluted boles, and buttresses thatare typically low and narrow. Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Hollowed stems are reported to often contain aggressive ants, which tend to attack individuals felling the tree Blunting Effect Little Moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Bores well with ordinary machine tools Bores well with ordinary machine tools Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Good results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Responds well to gluing Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Responds well to machine tools in mortising operations Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Material responds well to moulding operations Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Small Medium Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Good nailing characteristics Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Good planing operations with ordinary machine tools Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Permeable heartwood Heartwood is permeable Heartwood is difficult to treat with preservatives Resistance to Splitting Poor 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 Good routing qualities Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding properties Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Pre-boring recommended Good screwing properties Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Unsuitable Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good Painting Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Surface Preparation Fairly Easy to Very Easy Stains well Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Resists denting and marring Hard Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Dense Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8718 12768 psi Density 39 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1222 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6150 psi Shearing Strength 1334 psi Stiffness 1426 1727 1000 psi Toughness 150 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.55 Weight