Balfourodendron Riedelianum (Pau marfim)

Scientific Name
Balfourodendron riedelianum

Trade Name
Pau marfim

Family Name
Rutaceae

Common Names
Farinha-seca, Gramixinga, Guataia, Guatambu, Guatambu blanco, Guatambu moroti, Ibira-nete, Ibiranoti, Ivorywood, Marfim, Moroti, Pao liso, Pao marfim, Pau liso, Pau marfim, Pequia marfim, Quatamba

Regions of Distribution
Latin America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Axles, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boat building, Bobbins, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marquetry, Mathematical instruments, Moldings, Musical instruments, Oars, Office furniture, Paneling , Parquet flooring, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Radio – stereo – TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Sporting Goods, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Turnery

Environmental Profile

Plentiful in Paraguay.

Distribution Overview
State of Sao Paulo, Brazil; northern and central Paraguay; and the Selva Misionera, Argentina.

Heartwood Color

The wood has a superficial likeness to Sugar maple or Yellow birch, but it is much harder and more elastic

Sapwood Color

Grain

Texture

The size and appearance of earlywood and latewood cells are relatively uniform within each growth ring

Luster

Natural Durability

Not recommended for exterior applications.

Odor

Toxicity

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying

Tree Identification

Tree Size

Product Sources
The ITTO reports that a fairly important source of timber and is exported regularly.

Its extensive growth range makes the timber available in adequate quantities for the European market, where Maobi is more popular. Supply in the U.S. market is generally limited since the wood is mainly used in small quantities for turning and carving. Price is generally high, but not prohibitive.

Substitutes

It is superior to Maple for flooring because of its high wear resistance, but Pau marfim is much harder to work and is stronger than necessary for cabinet work. The wood is also reported to vary widely in density, depending upon prevailing conditions at growth sites

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect

Boring

Carving

Cutting Resistance

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

Movement in Service

Nailing

Planing

Resistance to Impregnation

Response to Hand Tools

Routing & Recessing

Sanding

Screwing

Turning

Veneering Qualities

Steam Bending

Painting

Polishing

Staining

Varnishing

Strength Properties

Numerical Data

References
Arno, J. 1989. Balfourodendron riedelianum – Pau marfim. In A Guide to Useful Wood of the World, Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 57-58.

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

Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia

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.

Brazier, J.D.,1975,Properties and uses of Brazilian woods,Journal of the Institute of Wood Science,7(2,pp50-57

Brazil -, I.B.D.F.,1980,Woods from Tucurui – characteristics and application,The Ag. Ministry Brazilian Institute for Forest Development

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

Chichignoud, M., G. Deon, P. Detienne, B. Parant, and P. Vantomme. 1990. Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne, CEDEX, France.

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

Constantine, Jr., A. J. 1959. Know Your Woods – A Complete Guide to Trees, Woods, and Veneers. Revised Edition. Revised by H.J. Hobbs. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York.

Goldsmith, B.,1947,La Industria de Maderas Compensadas en la Republica Aargentina,Min. Ag. Argentina, Dir. Gen. de Tierras y Bosques, Dir. For., Publ. Tec.,10

Horn, E.F.,1946,New Uses for Brazilian Timbers,Tropical Woods,11(86,pp12-13

Kaiser, Jo-Ann. Wood of the Month. Pau marfim: The Cream Colored Ivory Wood from South America. Wood & Wood Products. December, 1991. Page 46.

Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.

Mainieri, C., Pereira, J.A.,1965,Madeiras do Brasil,Anuario Brasileiro de Economia Florestal,17(17,PP135-416

Mainieri, C.,1978,Fichas de Caracteristicas das Madeiras Brasileiras,Inst. Pesquisas Technologicas

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

Sao Paulo – Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnologicas,1956,Tabelas de Resultados obtidos para Madeiras Nacionais,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo, Brazil Bol., No.31(2nd Ed.)

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

Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd.

Timber Development Association,1943,Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) and Pao Marfim (Balfourodendron,riedelianum,TRADA, Timber Leaflet,80

Timber Trades Journal,1971,World Timbers – Pau Marfim (Balfourodendron riedelianum,Timber Trades Journal,278(4952,supplement between pp36-7

Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition

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

Tropical Woods,1968,Madeiras Comercias Brasileiras,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo Brazil Publ.,857

U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72

USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook – Wood as an Engineering Material. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 72, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing – Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.

Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13