Scientific Name
Gymnanthes lucida
Trade Name
Aceitillo
Family Name
Euphorbiaceae
Synonyms
Sebastiana lucida, Excoecaria lucida
Common Names
Aceitillo, Aite, Aite crabwood, Aiti, Baboncillo, Bois manbre, Bois marbre, Bois vert, Casses haches, Colas, Crabwood, Cuban oyster wood, Ebene vert, Ebene vert brune, False lignum vitae, Granadillo, Haite, Nagrona, Oysterwood, Palo de hueso, Palo de tabaco, Pij, Poison wood, Ramon, Sandaleen, Shiny oysterwood, Tabaco, Tabacon, Yaite, Yaite bobo, Yaite macho, Yaitecillo, Yaiti, Yaya macho
Regions of Distribution
Central America, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Bahamas, Belize, Cuba, Guadelope [France], Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico [US], United States
Common Uses
Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Furniture, Handles: general, Musical instruments, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Tool handles, Turnery, Veneer: decorative, Walking sticks
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Black | ||||||||||||
| Purple | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Greenish to greyish | ||||||||||||
| Dark brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Pale brown | ||||||||||||
| Brown |
Sapwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Green/Grey | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow | ||||||||||||
| Well defined |
Grain
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Distinct (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Closed | ||||||||||||
| Wavy | ||||||||||||
| Other (figure) |
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Distinct figure | ||||||||||||
| Wavy | ||||||||||||
| Other figure | ||||||||||||
| Distinct and very fine figure |
Texture
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Fine |
Luster
| Medium |
Natural Durability
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to marine borers | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Durable |
Ease of Drying
| Slowly |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries slowly |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood width is 0-5 cm | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 10-20 m |
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant sapwood |
Response to Hand Tools
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work | ||||||||||||
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Easy to machine |
Polishing
| Satisfactory results | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = >75 lbs/cu. ft |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Density | 55 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Weight | 57 | 54 | lbs/ft3 |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Density | 881 | kg/m3 |
References
Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara
Little, E.L., Wadsworth, F.H.,1964,Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.249
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
Schiffino, J.,1945,Riqueza Forestal Dominicana (Three volumes,Secretaria de Estado de Agric. Ind. y Trabajo
Swabey, C.,1941,The Principal Timbers of Jamaica,Department of Science and Agriculture Jamaica Bulletin No.29