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Species-Products |
Greenheart
Ocotea rodiaei
Demerara Greenheart
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Family: Lauraceae
Other Common Names: Bibiru, Siprir, Kevatuk (Guyana), Beeberoe, Demerara groenhart, Sipiroe (Surinam).
Distribution: Commercial quantities mostly in the north central portion of Guyana but also found in Surinam and in the Venezuelan Guiana. It has also been reported from the Maroni Region of western French Guiana and from northern Brazil.
The Tree Grows to a height of 130 ft with diameters up to 40 in., commonly 16 to 24 in. in diameter with heights of 100 ft. Boles are cylindrical, straight, and clear for 50 to 75 ft with only moderate taper; usually basally swollen or with low buttresses.
The Wood General Characteristics: Heartwood varies from light to dark olive green or blackish, often with intermingling of lighter and darker areas; not sharply defined from the pale yellow or greenish sapwood. Texture fine and uniform; grain straight to roey; lustrous; odorless and tasteless when dry.
Weight: Basic specific gravity (oven-dry weight/green volume) 0.80 to .091; air-dry density 62 to 70 pcf.
Mechanical Properties: (First set of data based on the 2 –cm standard; second on the 2-in, standard.)
Moisture content |
Bending strength |
Modulus of elasticity |
Maximum crushing strength |
Psi |
1,000 Psi |
Psi |
|
Green (42) |
20,300 |
2,310 |
9,770 |
12% |
26,200 |
3,040 |
13,040 |
Green (40) |
20,900 |
3,040 |
10,690 |
12% |
25,500 |
3,700 |
13,040 |
Janka side hardness 1,880 lb. for green material and 2,360 lb. at 12% moisture content
Drying and Shrinkage: The wood dries very slowly with a marked tendency to check and end split; however warping is not serious and the total amount of degrade is not excessive.
Lumber over 1 in. in thickness should be air-seasoned prior to kiln-drying. Kiln schedule T2-C2 is suggested for 4/4 stock and T2-C1 for 8/4. Shrinkage green to oven-dry: radial 8.8%; tangential 9.6%; volumetric 17.1%. Movement in service is rated medium.
Working Properties: Moderately difficult to work with hand or machine tool because of its density, dulls cutting edges rather quickly but finishes to a fine smooth lustrous surface. Turns easily and takes a high polish. A moderately good steam-bending wood. Gluing gives variable results.
Durability: The heartwood is rated highly resistant to attack by decay fungi and is also rated as highly resistant to attacks by marine borers but this may vary from one locality to another, particularly in brackish waters, Highly resistant to attack by dry-wood termites.
Preservation: Impermeable to preservative treatments.
Uses: Marine and ship construction, lock gates, docks, industrial flooring, vats filter press plates, piling, heavy construction, turnery, specialty items (fishing rods, billiard cue butts).
Source: Tropical Timbers of the World, U.S. Forest Products Laboratory.
S P E C I E S
Greenheart / Purpleheart / Mora / Wallaba
Jatoba / Kabukalli / Determa / Basralocus
Silverballi / Tatabu / Snakewood
Azobe'-Ekki
Greenheart Forest Products, Inc.
81 STONE AVE
CAMPBELLVILLE
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA
Tel: +592-227-0549
Fax: +592-227-2996Email: submit contact form
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