Phyllostylon brasiliensis (San Domingo boxwood)

Scientific Name
Phyllostylon brasiliensis

Trade Name
San Domingo boxwood

Family Name
Ulmaceae

Synonyms
Samaroceltis rhamnoides

Common Names
Baitoa, Bois Blanc, Boxwoad, Canche, Cara tibama, Ceron, Ibira-catu, Ibiracatu, Jatia, Membrillo, Ot-te, Otelom, Palo amarillo, Palo blanco, Palo de Ianza Blanco, Palo de lanza, Palo de lanza blanco, Palo lanza, Palo lanza negro, Pan branco, Pau branco, Sabonero, San Domingo boxwood, Seron, Tala grande, Vareteiro, West Indian boxwood, Yao-si-y-guazu, Yva-si-yguazu

Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Bobbins, Carvings, Chessmen, Croquet mallets, Drum sticks, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Handles, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Organ pipes, Piano keys, Pianos , Plywood, Railroad ties, Rulers, Scientific instruments, Shafts/Handles, Shuttles, Sills, Sounding boards, Specialty items, Spindles, Spools, Sporting Goods, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Violin bows, Violin, Xylophones

Environmental Profile

Distribution Overview
The species grows from Cuba, Hispaniola, and southern Mexico to Colombia, Venezuela, southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. It is often found in pure stands.

Heartwood Color

The color of the heartwood is described as lemon yellow, sometimes with a tinge of brown. Dark streaks are occasionally present

Sapwood Color

Grain

The grain is fairly straight but may be irregular

Texture

Luster

Natural Growth Defects

Natural Durability

Odor

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying

Kiln Drying Rate

Tree Identification

Tree Size

The tree reaches a height of about 80 feet, with a trunk diameter of 30 inches (75 cm). It develops boles that are described as irregular or fluted.

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

The wood is similar in properties to other Boxwoods (Buxus , Gossypiospermum ). Boxwood was originally the trade name of Buxus sempervirens from Europe and eastern Asia. The trade name has been extended to include other species that are botanically dissimilar but which resemble true boxwood in general characteristics. San Domingo boxwood (Phyllostylon brasiliensis ) is among the more important of the boxwood-like species

Blunting Effect

Boring

Carving

Cutting Resistance

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

Movement in Service

Nailing

Planing

The material is reported to plane without difficulty

Resistance to Impregnation

Response to Hand Tools

Routing & Recessing

Sanding

Sanding operations are not usually difficult

Screwing

Turning

Steam Bending

Painting

Polishing

Staining

Varnishing

Strength Properties

The weight is very high. The species has very high density.

Numerical Data

References
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

Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1954,Mukulungu (Autranella congolensis,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,36,pp25-28

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods – Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Celulosa Argentina,1973,Libro del Arbol,Celulosa Argentina Buenos Aires 3 Vols

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods – Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London

Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO

Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara

HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer, Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Koehler, A.,1928,Tests on six Argentina Woods,Tropical Wood 2(14) pp15-20

Pennington, T.D., Sarukhan, J.,1968,Manual para la Identificacion de campo de los Principales Arboles,Tropicales de Mexico,Inst. Nac. Inv. For. Mexico

Record, S.J., Garratt, G.A.,1925,Boxwoods,Yale University School of Forestry Bulletin,No.14

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

Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London

Schiffino, J.,1945,Riqueza Forestal Dominicana (Three volumes,Secretaria de Estado de Agric. Ind. y Trabajo

Slooten van der, H.J., Martinez, E.P.,1940,Mechanisch-technologische Untersuchungen von zwei weiteren Chileniscen,Nutzholzern,Reprint from Kolonialforstliche Mitteilungen,2(4,pp361-77

Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA]

Tortorelli, L.,1956,Maderas y Bosques Argentinos,Editorial Acme S.A.C.I. Buenos Aires

Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series