Scientific Name
Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco
Trade Name
Horco quebracho
Family Name
Apocynaceae
Common Names
Horco quebracho, Quebrachillo, Quebracho blanco, Quebracho blanco colorado, Quebracho blanco lloron, Quebraco bianco, Weisse quebrachoholz, White quebracho
Regions of Distribution
Latin America
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay
Common Uses
Charcoal, Chemical derivatives, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Mine timbers, Poles, Railroad ties, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts
Heartwood Color
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Pink | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Pale red to pink | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Brown |
Sapwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Same as heartwood |
Grain
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Other (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Distinct (figure) |
| Other figure | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Distinct figure |
Texture
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Medium |
Luster
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Lustrous |
Natural Durability
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) | ||||||||||||
| Non durable |
Light-Induced Color Change
| Lighter |
Kiln Schedules
| Dry at a slow speed |
Drying Defects
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Internal Honeycombing Possible | ||||||||||||
| Collapse | ||||||||||||
| Splitting | ||||||||||||
| Moderate twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Moderate surface checking | ||||||||||||
| Moderate end spitting | ||||||||||||
| Moderate collapse and honeycombing |
Ease of Drying
| Moderately Difficult to Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Slowly | ||||||||||||
| Difficult |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries slowly |
Tree Size
| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 10-20 m |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is resistant | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is moderately resistant |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work | ||||||||||||
| Easy to machine | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to machine |
Turning
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Easy to turn |
Steam Bending
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Good |
Polishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Strength Properties
| Shrinkage, Tangential = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = medium | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 9310 | 14566 | psi |
| Density | 53 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 3916 | 6397 | psi |
| Stiffness | 1017 | 1199 | 1000 psi |
| Weight | 52 | 42 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 5 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 9 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 654 | 1024 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 849 | kg/m3 | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 275 | 449 | kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness | 71 | 84 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Weight | 833 | 673 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 5 | % |
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
Celulosa Argentina,1973,Libro del Arbol,Celulosa Argentina Buenos Aires 3 Vols
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
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
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