Scientific Name
Brya ebenus
Trade Name
American ebony
Family Name
Leguminosae
Synonyms
Amerimnom ebenus, Inga vera
Common Names
American ebony, Amerikanisches ebenholz, Brown ebony, Cocos wood, Cocus, Cocus wood, Granadillo, Green ebony, Guaba, Guaba del pais, Guaba nativa, Guama, Jamaica ebony, Legno granadillo, Ojo de perdiz, Pan chock, Pois doux a paille, Red ebony, River koko, Torchwood, West Indian ebony
Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guadelope [France], Jamaica
Common Uses
Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Charcoal, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Light construction, Musical instruments, Poles, Tool handles, Turnery, Walking sticks
Heartwood Color
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Pink | ||||||||||||
| Dark brown | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Black | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Purple |
Sapwood Color
| Well defined | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow |
Grain
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Stripe (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Wavy | ||||||||||||
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Distinct (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Other (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Closed |
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Wavy | ||||||||||||
| Striped figure | ||||||||||||
| Other figure | ||||||||||||
| Distinct figure |
Texture
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Fine |
Luster
| Low | ||||||||||||
| Lustrous |
Natural Durability
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable |
Toxicity
| Dermatitic effects |
Kiln Schedules
| UK=A US=T2D4/T2D3 Fr=1 |
Drying Defects
| Slight twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Slight surface checking | ||||||||||||
| No twisting or warping | ||||||||||||
| No surface checking |
Ease of Drying
| Easy |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 20-30 m |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory
Nailing
| Possible if prebored | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to nail |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Easy to machine | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to machine |
Screwing
| Possible if prebored |
Turning
| Easy to turn | ||||||||||||
| Good results | ||||||||||||
| Finish is generally satisfactory |
Polishing
| Good results |
Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = >75 lbs/cu. ft | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Density | 74 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Weight | 73 | 58 | lbs/ft3 |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Density | 1185 | kg/m3 |
References
Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia
Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 9 Central America and the Caribbean,TRADA, Red Booklet Series
Burtt, B.L.,1936,Malenesian Plants,Kew Bulletin 8 pp459
Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO
Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara
Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.
Nation Research Council,1980,Firewood Crops Shrub and Tree Species for Energy Production,National Academy of Sciences, Washington D.C.
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
Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London
Swabey, C.,1941,The Principal Timbers of Jamaica,Department of Science and Agriculture Jamaica Bulletin No.29
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,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition
Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13