Scientific Name
Plathymenia reticulata
Trade Name
Vinhatico
Family Name
Leguminosae
Common Names
Amarelinho, Amarello, Amerello, Brazilian mahogany, Brazilian yellowood, Brazillian mahogany, Candeia, Candela, Espinollo, Goldwood, Oiteira, Parica-zinho, Pau amerello, Pau de candeia, Tatane blanco, Tatare, Venhatico roxo, Vinhatico, Vinhatico cabelleira, Vinhatico castanho, Vinhatico de campo, Vinhatico flor de algadao, Vinhatico oretha de macaco, Vinhatico pe de boi, Vinhatico roxo, Vinhatico testa de bois, Yellow mahogany, Yellowwood
Regions of Distribution
Latin America
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Brazil
Common Uses
Boat building (general), Boat building, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Construction, Door, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Light construction, Moldings, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Railroad ties, Tables, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative
Environmental Profile
| Endangered | ||||||||||||
| Environmental status not officially assessed |
Distribution Overview
The species occurs in eastern Brazil, from the lower Amazon to Sao Paolo. It is distributed in a scattered fashion throughout its range, with an average occurrence of only about three trees per acre.
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Orange-Brown, occasionally with darker streaks | ||||||||||||
| Ages to dark rich shade of reddish-brown upon exposure |
Sapwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Pink | ||||||||||||
| Well defined | ||||||||||||
| White to yellowish-white | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow | ||||||||||||
| Clearly demarcated from heartwood in old trees |
Grain
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Variable (figure) |
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Variable figure | ||||||||||||
| Straight to roey | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked |
Texture
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Even or uniform | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Medium to coarse | ||||||||||||
| Fine to medium | ||||||||||||
| Moderately fine | ||||||||||||
| Even textured |
Luster
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Lustrous | ||||||||||||
| Silky sheen | ||||||||||||
| Pronounced |
Natural Durability
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non durable | ||||||||||||
| Moderately resistant to decay | ||||||||||||
| Moderately resistant to attack by fungus and wood destroying insects | ||||||||||||
| Durable |
Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
Toxicity
| Respiratory effects |
Kiln Schedules
| Schedule E (4/) United Kingdom |
Drying Defects
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| Splitting | ||||||||||||
| Dries with very little or no degrade |
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Rapidly | ||||||||||||
| Slowly | ||||||||||||
| Reconditioning Treatement | ||||||||||||
| Little degrade | ||||||||||||
| Easy | ||||||||||||
| Moderate | ||||||||||||
| Air dries and kiln dries without too much difficulty |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries at a moderate speed | ||||||||||||
| Naturally dries quickly |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is not buttressed |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 0-10 m | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 0-10 m | ||||||||||||
| Bark width is 0-5 mm | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm |
Product Sources
Supplies of Sycamore are plentiful. It is readily available and is priced in the inexpensive range.
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Boring
| Fair to good results | ||||||||||||
| Good boring qualitites |
Carving
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw | ||||||||||||
| Tendency to tear | ||||||||||||
| Fairly difficult to saw |
Gluing
| Good gluing properties |
Mortising
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Responds well to mortising operations |
Moulding
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Movement in Service
| Excellent Stability – Small Movement | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Stability – Medium Movement | ||||||||||||
| Very stable after seasoning | ||||||||||||
| Stable | ||||||||||||
| Retains shape well in use |
Nailing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Holds nails well | ||||||||||||
| Nails without pre-boring | ||||||||||||
| Good nail holding properties | ||||||||||||
| Easy to nail |
Planing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Responds well to thin edged sharp tools in most machining operations | ||||||||||||
| Planes withouth too much difficulty to yield smooth, silky surfaces | ||||||||||||
| Planes well, to a good finish |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Permeable heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Permeable sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood responds well to preservative treatment | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is moderately resistant |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Responds Readily | ||||||||||||
| Easy to machine | ||||||||||||
| Responds well to hand tools | ||||||||||||
| Keep sharp for best results |
Routing & Recessing
| Fair to Good Results |
Sanding
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Screwing
| Good screwing properties |
Turning
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Poor choice for turnery work |
Steam Bending
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Unsuitable |
Painting
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Satisfactory results | ||||||||||||
| Poor results | ||||||||||||
| Requires some filling for best polishing results |
Staining
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Satisfactory staining properties | ||||||||||||
| Finish is generally satisfactory |
Varnishing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = very small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = very small | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = low | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = low | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = large | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low | ||||||||||||
| Low shock resistance | ||||||||||||
| Crushing strength = high | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium |
The timber has good strength properties, but it is seldom used in applications where strength is required. It is a tough, strong wood in relation to its weight
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 6111 | 9589 | psi |
| Density | 35 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 2139 | 3916 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 2205 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1017 | 1199 | 1000 psi |
| Specific Gravity | 0.57 | ||
| Weight | 35 | 27 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 4 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 429 | 674 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 560 | kg/m3 | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 150 | 275 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 155 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 71 | 84 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.57 | ||
| Weight | 560 | 432 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % |
References
Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux,1955,Nomenclature Generale des Bois Tropicaux,Assoc. Tec. Int. des Bois Tropicaux Nogent-sur-Marne France
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
Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series
Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods – Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London
Harrar, E.S.,1942,Some Physical Properties of Modern Cabinet Woods 3. Directional and Volume,Shrinkage,Tropical Woods,9(71, pp26-32
Kline, M. 1981. Plathymenia reticulata – Vinhatico. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 283-284.
Kribbs, D.A. 1959. Commercial Foreign Woods on the American Market. Buckhout Lab., Dept. of Botany, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.
Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory
Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.
Patterson, D. 1988. Commercial Timbers of the World. Fifth Edition. Gower Technical Press, Aldershot, UK.
Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press
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
Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4
Tamolang, F.N., Martawijaya, A., Kartasujana, I., Kadir, K., Parwira, S.,1992,Indonesian Wood Atlas Volume II,Department of Forestry, Agency for Forestry Research and Development,,Bogor-Indonesia
Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA]
Titmuss, F.H. 1965. Commercial Timbers of the World. Third Edition (Enlarged of A Concise Encyclopedia of World Timbers). The Technical Press, London.
Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition
Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series
Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13