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Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Turning		Scientific Name Humiria balsamifera Trade Name Tauroniro Family Name Humiriaceae Synonyms Houmiri balsamifera Common Names Aneichi ou dou, Bakabe-ie, Basra bolletrie, Bastard bolletrie, Bastard bulletwood, Bastard bully, Bhoso, Blackaberie, Bois a flambeau, Bois d'encens, Bois rouge, Boume houmiri, Caramura, Chilco, Couramira, Couranira, Couranoura, Gomier de montagne, Gommier de montagne, Homiry, Houmiri, Houmiri boumier, Humiry, Kierie-ma, Meri, Nieri, Nina, Nino, Olorosa, Oloroso, Omiry, Quera, Quinilla, Racine, Swietimerie, Tabaniro, Taranira, Tauaranru, Tauroniro, Tawanangro, Tourameira, Touroniro, Towaronero, Toweroenierou, Triane, Turamira, Turanira, Turi, Umiri, Umiri balsamo, Umiry, Umiry de casca cheiro, Umiry de cheiro Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Cooperages, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tables, Tool handles, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The Guianas, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Brazilian Amazon. In Guyana it is a principal dominant species in the marsh forests; does best on light sandy soils. In Surinam occurs in savanna forests. Heartwood Color Reddish brown Pale brown Purple Light brown Brown Sapwood Color Same as heartwood Paler than heartwood Pale brown Grain Straight Interlocked Figure Even Distinct (figure) Texture Fine Medium Medium coarse to coarse Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Susceptible to marine borer attack Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Moderately durable Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Lighter Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Slight surface checking Slight twist/warp Moderate twist/warp Slight end splitting Slight spring/bow Slight cupping No cupping, generally Moderate spring/bow Ease of Drying Moderate Difficult Air-dries rather well Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber locally. Export potential is rated as fair. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Boring Easy Carving Generally poor Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Planing Ease of planing is moderate Areas of interlocked grain may chip and pick-up Response to Hand Tools Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Sanding Difficult to sand Turning Difficult to turn Polishing Satisfactory results Strength Properties Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 12335 19277 psi Crushing Strength 853 960 psi Density 51 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1693 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6425 9549 psi Shearing Strength 2140 psi Static Bending 7664 10829 psi Stiffness 2135 2527 1000 psi Toughness 143 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 10 20 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.62 0.71 Weight 50 40 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 867 1355 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 59 67 kg/cm2 Density 817 kg/m3 Hardness 767 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 451 671 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 150 kg/cm2 Static Bending 538 761 kg/cm2 Stiffness 150 177 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 164 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.70 1.40 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.62 0.71 Weight 801 641 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % References Bena, P.,1960,Essences Forestieres de Guyane,Bureau Agricole et Forestier Guyanais Guyana 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 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. Edmondson, C.H.,1949,Reaction of Woods from S.America and Caribbean areas to Marine Borers in,Hawaiian Waters,Caribbean Foresters,10(1,PP37-41 Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Fanshawe, D.B.,1954,Forest Products of British Guiana Part 1 Principal Timbers,Forest Department British Guiana Forestry Bulletin (New Series 2nd,Edition,No.1 Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207 Peru - P.A.D.T.,1981,Descripcion general y anatomica de 105 Maderas del Grupo Andino,Junta del Acuerdo de Cartagena, P.A.D.T. Report, Junac, Lima, Peru. Peru - P.A.D.T.,1981,Tablas de propiedades fisicas y mecariicas de la Madera de 24 especies de,Colombia,Junta del Acuerdo de Cartagena, P.A.D.T. Report, Lima, Peru. Polak, A.M.,1992,Major Timber Trees of Guyana A Field Guide,The Tropenbos Foundation Wageningen, The Netherlands Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Record, S.J., Mell, C.D.,1924,Timbers of Tropical America,Yale Univ. Press Wangaard, F.F., W.L. Stern, and S.L. Goodrich. 1955. Tropical Woods - Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods, Volume V, No. 103. School of Forestry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.