Scientific Name
Sapindus saponaria
Trade Name
Amole
Family Name
Sapindaceae
Common Names
Amole, Amole de bolita, Amolillo, Bibi, Bois canique, Bois savanette, Bolchiche, Boliche, Casita, Casita-ra, Chinaberry, Chirrion, Cholulo, Coyul, Devanador, Espingua, False dogwood, Graine canique, Guayul, Hualul, Iba-ro, Jabon-che, Jaboncillo, Luci, Ma-muho, Mata muchacho, Pacun, Palo blanco, Palo blanco amole, Palo de cuentas, Palo de voladillo, Palo jabon, Parapara, Pepo, Pibi, Pipal, Pipe, Pipi, Quillai, Saboeiro, Saboneteiro, Savonetier, Savonette, Savonette pays, Savonnier, Snot pu’pu, Soapberry, Soapberry tree, Soapseed, Sopo serie, Sullucu, Tehoitzli, Tehuistle, Tehuixtle, Tehuiztle, Tzatzupu, Wild China, Wild China berry, Wingleaf soapberrey, Wingleaf soapberry, Ximbi’p, Xoken-cab, Yaga-bia, Yaga-piaa, Yamole, Yamoli, Yamolli, Yequiti, Zapatero, Zihom, Zubul
Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Argentina, Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, United States
Common Uses
Fuelwood, Joinery, Posts, Tool handles
Heartwood Color
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Pale brown |
Sapwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow | ||||||||||||
| Same as heartwood |
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Straight |
| Straight |
Texture
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Coarse | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Fine to medium |
Luster
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Slightly lustrous |
Natural Durability
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Non durable |
Drying Defects
| Splitting |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is not buttressed |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 0-10 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm |
Response to Hand Tools
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to machine |
Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Density | 52 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Weight | 51 | 41 | lbs/ft3 |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Density | 833 | kg/m3 |
References
Celulosa Argentina,1973,Libro del Arbol,Celulosa Argentina Buenos Aires 3 Vols
Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara
Little, E.L., Wadsworth, F.H.,1964,Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.249
Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98
Marshall, R.C.,1934,Trees of Trinidad and Tobago,Government Printer Port of Spain Trinidad
Marshall, R.C.,1939,Silviculture of the trees of Trinidad and Tobago – British West Indies,O.U.P.,London
Pennington, T.D., Sarukhan, J.,1968,Manual para la Identificacion de campo de los Principales Arboles,Tropicales de Mexico,Inst. Nac. Inv. For. Mexico
Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press
Record, S.J.,1927,Trees of Honduras,Tropical Woods,10, pp10-47
Swabey, C.,1941,The Principal Timbers of Jamaica,Department of Science and Agriculture Jamaica Bulletin No.29
Tortorelli, L.,1956,Maderas y Bosques Argentinos,Editorial Acme S.A.C.I. Buenos Aires