Scientific Name
Ficus glabrata
Trade Name
Amate
Family Name
Moraceae
Common Names
Amate, Cow fig, Higueron, Quam fig, Wild fig
Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Belize, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela
Common Uses
Boxes and crates
Environmental Profile
| Abundant/Secure |
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Green/grey | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| Pale brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| White to cream | ||||||||||||
| Greenish to greyish |
Sapwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Color not distinct from heartwood |
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Other (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Weak (figure) |
| Weak figure | ||||||||||||
| Other figure | ||||||||||||
| Generally straight, but not always |
Texture
| Coarse | ||||||||||||
| Fine |
Luster
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| High | ||||||||||||
| Dull |
Natural Growth Defects
| Latex or other ducts |
Natural Durability
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable |
Odor
| Has an odor |
Kiln Schedules
| Drying (speed) is fast |
Drying Defects
| Splitting | ||||||||||||
| Extension of Existing Shakes | ||||||||||||
| Discoloration | ||||||||||||
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| Moderate twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Moderate surface checking | ||||||||||||
| Moderate cupping |
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Variable | ||||||||||||
| Rapidly | ||||||||||||
| Thick Stock Requires Care | ||||||||||||
| Reconditioning Treatement | ||||||||||||
| Easy |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries quickly |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is straight | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is cylindrical | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is buttressed |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 40-50 m |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory
Blunting Effect
| Moderate |
Boring
| Fairly easy to very easy | ||||||||||||
| Easy to treat using either open tank or pressure syste |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy |
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Carefully Controlled Conditions | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Mortising
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Finishes satisfactorily |
Moulding
| Poor moulding results |
Movement in Service
| Excellent Stability – Small Movement | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Stability – Medium Movement |
Nailing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Pre-Boring Recommended | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Holds nails well | ||||||||||||
| Easy to nail |
Planing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Planes to a satisfactory finish | ||||||||||||
| Easy to plane |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Permeable heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Permeable sapwood |
Resistance to Splitting
| Good |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Responds Readily | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work |
Sanding
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Screwing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Turning
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Poor results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to turn |
Veneering Qualities
| Veneers moderately easy | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to veneer | ||||||||||||
| Suitable for slicing | ||||||||||||
| Veneers easily | ||||||||||||
| Suitable for peeling |
Steam Bending
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Painting
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Staining
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Varnishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Strength Properties
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = low |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 6111 | 9589 | psi |
| Density | 22 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Weight | 22 | 18 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 5 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 9 | % | |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 13 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 429 | 674 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 352 | kg/m3 | |
| Weight | 352 | 288 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 5 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 9 | % |
References
Belize,1946,42 Secondary Hardwood Timbers of British Honduras,British Honduras Forest Department Bulletin,No.1
Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98
Record, S.J.,1927,Trees of Honduras,Tropical Woods,10, pp10-47