Scientific Name
Licania hypoleouca
Trade Name
Caripe
Family Name
Chrysobalanaceae

Common Names
Caripe, Chozo, Icaquito, Mezcla, Pigeon plum
Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Belize, Colombia, Guatemala, Venezuela
Common Uses
Heavy construction, Shingles
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| Black | ||||||||||||
| Greenish to greyish | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Purple | ||||||||||||
| Pale brown |
Sapwood Color
| Color not distinct from heartwood |
Grain
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Even |
| Straight |
Texture
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Medium |
Luster
| Dull |
Natural Durability
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to marine borers | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Non durable |
Drying Defects
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Distortion |
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Moderately Difficult to Difficult |
Tree Size
| Bole length is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 50-60 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 40-50 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 20-30 m |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory
Blunting Effect
| High to severe |
Cutting Resistance
| Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult |
Planing
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Response to Hand Tools
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work | ||||||||||||
| Easy to machine |
Strength Properties
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = soft | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = medium | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = high | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 61 – 67 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = low |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 8510 | 13321 | psi |
| Density | 51 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 1326 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 5408 | 8171 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 1221 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1589 | 1835 | 1000 psi |
| Weight | 50 | 40 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 4 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 7 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 598 | 936 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 817 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 601 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 380 | 574 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 85 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 111 | 129 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Weight | 801 | 641 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 4 | % |
References
Kynoch, W., Norton, N.A.,1938,Mechanical Properties of certain tropical woods chiefly from S. America,School of Forestry and Conservation, University of Michigan Bulletin,No.7
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
Record, S.J.,1927,Trees of Honduras,Tropical Woods,10, pp10-47
Slooten van der, H.J., Martinez, E.P.,1959,Descripcion y propiedades de algunas madeiras Venezolanas,Inst. for Lation Americano de Investigacion y Capaciticion Boletin,Informaturo Dirulgaturo