Scientific Name
Quassia amara
Trade Name
Acuasia
Family Name
Simaroubaceae
Common Names
Acuasia, Bitterholz, Bitterwood, Bois amer, Bois cajan, Bois de frene, Coachi, Cruceto morado, Cruseta, Cuasia, Cuasisa de Jamaica, Echtes quassiaholz, Fliegenholz, Guabo, Guavito, Guavito amargo, Guina, Hombre grande, Kabodan, Kwassi, Kwassi bita, Kwassie hout, Lena amarga, Lignum quassiae verum, Padilla, Palo Isidoro, Pau de Surinam, Pensilero, Puesilde, Quashi, Quasi, Quasia, Quassia, Quina de cayenne, Quinquina de cayenne, Surinam quassia, Tinco
Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Guyana, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago
Common Uses
Chemical derivatives, Food containers
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Green | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| White to cream |
Sapwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow | ||||||||||||
| Color not distinct from heartwood |
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Straight |
| Straight |
Texture
| Fine |
Luster
| Lustrous |
Natural Durability
| Durable |
Toxicity
| Unspecified toxicity | ||||||||||||
| Respiratory effects |
Drying Defects
| Ring Shakes | ||||||||||||
| Internal Honeycombing Possible | ||||||||||||
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Collapse | ||||||||||||
| Discoloration |
Ease of Drying
| Thick Stock Requires Care |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is not buttressed |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 0-10 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 20-30 m |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| High to severe |
Boring
| Fair to good results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly easy to very easy |
Carving
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Cutting Resistance
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw |
Gluing
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Mortising
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Moulding
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Nailing
| Pre-Boring Recommended | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Planing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Resistance to Abrasion
| High |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant heartwood |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to machine |
Routing & Recessing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Sanding
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Screwing
| Pre-boring recommended | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Turning
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Steam Bending
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Polishing
| Surface Preparation | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Staining
| Surface Preparation | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Density | 32 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Weight | 31 | 25 | lbs/ft3 |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Density | 512 | kg/m3 |
References
Fanshawe, D.B.,1954,Forest Products of British Guiana Part 1 Principal Timbers,Forest Department British Guiana Forestry Bulletin (New Series 2nd,Edition,No.1
Marshall, R.C.,1934,Trees of Trinidad and Tobago,Government Printer Port of Spain Trinidad
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
Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13