top

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.

Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Family Name
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Luster
Moulding
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Planing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Mora megistosperma

Trade Name
Alcornoque

Family Name
Leguminosae

Synonyms
Dihophandra oleifera


Wood Image 1

Common Names
Alcornoque, Mangle nato, Mora, Nato, Pracouba

Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Cabinetmaking, Decks, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Light construction, Plywood, Posts, Railroad ties

Heartwood Color
Red
Brown
Pink
Reddish brown


Sapwood Color
White
Yellow


Grain
Even
Interlocked
Straight

Interlocked
Straight


Texture
Medium
Medium


Luster
Lustrous


Natural Durability
Perishable
Susceptible to insect attack
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Non-durable
Non-resistant to termites
Non-resistant to marine borers
Durable
Moderately durable
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles


Drying Defects
Checking
Collapse
Internal Honeycombing Possible


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Moderately Difficult to Difficult


Kiln Drying Rate
Rapid
Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is buttressed
Bole/stem form is straight


Tree Size
Bole length is 10-20 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Tree height is 30-40 m
Bole length is 20-30 m


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw


Moulding
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Planes well, to a good finish


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant sapwood
Resistant heartwood


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Easy to machine
Difficult to machine


Screwing
Poor to Very Poor Results


Veneering Qualities
Veneers easily
Suitable for peeling
Veneers moderately easy


Strength Properties
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Hardness (side grain) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high
Max. crushing strength = medium
Max. crushing strength = high
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Bending strength (MOR) = high


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength984315272psi
Hardness1658lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength54088171psi
Shearing Strength882psi
Stiffness176220311000 psi
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength6921073kg/cm2
Hardness752kg
Maximum Crushing Strength380574kg/cm2
Shearing Strength62kg/cm2

References
Acosta-Solis, M.,1960,Maderas Economicas del Ecuador y sus Usos,Editorial Casa de la Culhra Ecuatoriana Quito

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98

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.

Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press

Scheffer, T.C., Duncan, C.G.,1947,The Decay Resistance of certain Central American and Ecuadorian Woods,Tropical Woods,12(92, PP1-24