Scientific Name
Byrsonima spp.
Trade Name
Serrette
Family Name
Malpighiaceae
Common Names
Candelo, Changugo, Chaparro, Chupi cara, Golden spoon, Kanoaballi, Maricao, Murici, Serrette
Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Peru
Common Uses
Bedroom suites, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, General carpentry, Hatracks, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Plain veneer, Plywood, Radio – stereo – TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Structural plywood, Sub-flooring, Tables , Turnery, Utility furniture, Utility plywood, Veneer, Wardrobes
Environmental Profile
| Vulnerable | ||||||||||||
| Abundant/Secure |
The environmental status of this species within its geographical boundaries has not been officially determined
Distribution Overview
Throughout West Indies, Central America, Colombia, the Guianas, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. Common in secondary forests and frequently on lands degraded by farming.
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Reddish brown | ||||||||||||
| Greyish tint | ||||||||||||
| Cast of purple |
Sapwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| Pink | ||||||||||||
| Somewhat differentiated from the heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Reddish-brown | ||||||||||||
| Greyish |
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked |
| Occasionally interlocked, but not always | ||||||||||||
| Generally straight, but not always |
Texture
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Moderately fine |
Luster
| High | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Medium |
Natural Durability
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to marine borers | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Slightly resistant to decay causing organisms | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood highly susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites and other insects |
Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
Kiln Schedules
| T6 – D2 (4/4); T3 – D1 (8/4) US | ||||||||||||
| Schedule E; United Kingdom |
Drying Defects
| Splitting | ||||||||||||
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| Slight surface- and end-checks | ||||||||||||
| Moderate cupping |
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Thick Stock Requires Care | ||||||||||||
| Requires special attention | ||||||||||||
| Easy | ||||||||||||
| Air-dries slow/moderate |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 40-50 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
Typically unbuttressed, and develops a straight and cylindrical stem that is clear of branches to 60 to 70 feet (18 to 21 m)
Comments
Care required during nailing and screwing
Splits easily
Blunting Effect
| Blunting effect on cutting tools is moderate |
Boring
| Fair to good results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly difficult to very difficult |
Carving
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw | ||||||||||||
| Low resistance |
Mortising
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Moulding
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Movement in Service
| Fair to Good Stability – Medium Movement | ||||||||||||
| Medium |
Moderate dimensional stability can be attained after seasoning
Nailing
| Pre-boring recommended | ||||||||||||
| Poor nailing properties |
Planing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Good planing properties | ||||||||||||
| Easy to plane |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Permeable sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood is moderately treatable | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is moderately treatable |
To increase penetration incising is encouraged
Response to Hand Tools
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work | ||||||||||||
| Responds Poorly |
Routing & Recessing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Sanding
| Good sanding qualities |
Screwing
| Possible if prebored |
Turning
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Good response to most hand tools and machines. Can be worked to a smooth surface in all operations.
Steam Bending
| Variable steam bending qualities | ||||||||||||
| Moderate |
Polishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Surface Preparation | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Strength Properties
| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
Bending strength qualities of this species in the air-dry condition is very high, far superior to those of Mahogany. It has superior properties in compression parallel to grain in the air-dry condition than Teak, White oak, or Hard maple. It is moderately hard and resistant to wearing and marring. The wood is very heavy. The wood has high density.
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 11358 | 16758 | psi |
| Density | 45 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 1499 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 5457 | 9173 | psi |
| Stiffness | 1615 | 2006 | 1000 psi |
| Specific Gravity | 0.57 | ||
| Weight | 44 | 36. | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 4 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | % | |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 12 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 798 | 1178 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 721 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 679 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 383 | 644 | kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness | 113 | 141 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.57 | ||
| Weight | 705 | 576. | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 4 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | % |
References
Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.
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.
Lavers, G. M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London.
WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing – Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom