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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
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Odor
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
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Virola koschnyi

Trade Name
Light virola

Family Name
Myristicaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Baboen, Babun, Banak, Bastard cedar, Bicuiba, Cajuco, Colorada, Fruta dorada, Fruta dorda, Ira rosa, Light virola, Miguelarillo, Palo de sangre, Sangre, Sangre de toro, Sangre palo, Sangredrago, Sebo, Tapsava, Virola

Regions of Distribution
Central America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama

Common Uses
Bedroom suites, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Cigar boxes, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Cooperages, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matchboxes, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Sills, Stools, Tables , Toothpicks, Trimming, Utility furniture, Veneer

Environmental Profile
Status has not been officially assessed


Distribution Overview
The genus Virola is represented by about 38 tree species in the mixed hardwood forests of Central and South America. The species are distributed from Belize and Guatemala, southward to Venezuela, the Guianas, the Amazon region of northern Brazil, southern Brazil and on the Pacific Coast, to Peru and Bolivia. They are commonly found in swamps and marshy areas. V. koschnyi grows primarily in Central America, from Honduras and Guatemala to Panama.

Profile Sources

Some material from this species is available from environmentally responsible or sustainably managed sources.

The ITTO reports that a very important source of timber for export.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Yellow
White
Pale red to pink
Pale brown
Greenish to greyish
White to cream
Turn reddish brown upon exposure
Reddish brown
Pinkish brown
Golden brown with a reddish cast
Dark brown
Brown


Sapwood Color
Brown
Yellow
White
Color not distinct from heartwood


Grain
Straight
Weak (figure)
Figure
Even

Straight
Weak figure


Texture
Even or uniform
Uniform
Medium
Fine to medium


Luster
Lustrous
Dull
Medium
Low


Natural Growth Defects
White deposits in vessels
Gum/resin exudation


Natural Durability
Non-resistant to marine borers
Non-resistant to termites
Non durable
Perishable
Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Vulnerable to attack by powder-post beetles
Susceptible to attack by fungi and termites
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log
Pinworm (ambrosia beetle) often present in the heartwood
Heartwood susceptible to attack by decay fungi


Odor
No specific smell or taste


Light-Induced Color Change
Darker


Toxicity
Some toxic effects


Kiln Schedules
Moderate
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid
Drying (speed) is fast
Drying (speed) is fast
Dry at a slow speed
Dry at a slow speed
Dry at a moderate speed
UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3
UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3
T3 - C2 (4/4); T3 - C1 (8/4) US
Slow
Schedule C (4/4) United Kingdom/T3 - C2 (4/4); T3 - C1 (8/4) US
Schedule C (4/4) United Kingdom
Rather slow
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid
Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm)


Drying Defects
Severe end splitting
Moderate end spitting
Severe surface checking
Severe cupping
Moderate surface checking
Moderate cupping
Warping can be expected
Slight twist/warp
Slight surface checking
Slight end splitting
Severe twisting/warping
Severe collapse and honeycomb
No surface checking
No end splitting should be expected
No cupping, generally
Moderate collapse and honeycombing
Honeycombing possible
Collapse
Checking


Ease of Drying
Difficult
Moderate
Easy
Dries well under good controlled conditions
Dries slowly


Kiln Drying Rate
Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm)
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 Identification
Bole/stem form is buttressed
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is cylindrical


Comments
Free of knots and other defects. Reported to yield red sap which flows like blood when cut

General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on machining is slight
Slight effect
Blunting effect on sawing green wood is mild
Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild


Boring
Fair to good results
Fairly easy to very easy
Easy
Bores readily with ordinary machine tools


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Easy to carve


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Easy to glue


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to mortise
Good mortising properties
Finishes well


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to mould
Satisfactory properties
Good finishing results


Movement in Service
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Moderate dimensional stability after seasoning


Nailing
Easy to nail
Holds nails well
Possible if prebored
Holds satisfactorily
Difficult to nail
Resists splitting


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to plane
Planes well, to a good finish
Yields a clean surface
Planes to a smooth surface


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant sapwood
Resistant heartwood
Heartwood is permeable
Sapwood is permeable


Resistance to Splitting
Poor
Good


Response to Hand Tools
Responds Readily
Easy to machine
Responds well


Routing & Recessing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Satisfactory routing results
Recess without difficulty
Moderately easy


Sanding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Easy to sand
Yields smooth, clean surfaces
Satisfactory sanding results
Good sanding finish


Screwing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Easy to screw
Screwing yields good results
Good screw holding properties
Difficult to screw


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Easy to turn
Good results
Yields smooth, clean surface.
Finish is generally satisfactory


Veneering Qualities
Easy to cut
There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits
Suitable for slicing
Suitable for peeling
No steaming needed during bolt preparation.


Steam Bending
Very poor
Poor

Buckles and fractures severely when compressed

Polishing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Satisfactory results


Staining
Finish is generally satisfactory
Stains well
Staining (Characteristic) = non-staining


Varnishing
Satisfactory