Scientific Name
Sweetia panamensis
Trade Name
Bilihuete
Family Name
Common Names
Bilihuete, Chichipate, Coyote, Guayacan, Huesillo, Palo de Vaca
Regions of Distribution
Central America
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Belize, Columbia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela
Common Uses
Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Construction, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Flooring, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Parquet flooring, Plain veneer, Railroad cars, Sculpture, Sub-flooring, Trimming, Veneer, Wainscotting, Woodwork
Environmental Profile
| Abundant/Secure | ||||||||||||
| Rare | ||||||||||||
| Status has not been officially assessed |
Distribution Overview
The species occurs from southern Mexico to northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela.
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| Darkens upon exposure | ||||||||||||
| Contains dark streaks | ||||||||||||
| Brown – olive |
Sapwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Well defined |
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked or roey |
Texture
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Closed | ||||||||||||
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Wavy | ||||||||||||
| Distinct (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Medium to fairly high |
Natural Durability
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Moderately resistant to attack by marine borers | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood very resistant to dry-wood termites and powder-post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Good weathering properties |
Odor
| Sapwood has bitter taste | ||||||||||||
| No distinct odor or taste |
Kiln Schedules
| T2-C1 (8/4) US | ||||||||||||
| T2 – C2 (4/4-6/4) US | ||||||||||||
| Schedule B (4/4) United Kingdom |
Drying Defects
| Slight twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Slight surface checking |
Ease of Drying
| Dries easily with very little degrade |
Boring
| Fairly easy to very easy | ||||||||||||
| Good results | ||||||||||||
| Clean and smooth surfaces |
Carving
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw |
Mortising
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Finishes well | ||||||||||||
| Easy to mortise |
Moulding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Good finishing results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to mould |
Movement in Service
| Stable | ||||||||||||
| Small |
Nailing
| Nailing properties are very poor |
Planing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Material with ribbon figure may pick-up | ||||||||||||
| Easy to plane |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Good response |
Routing & Recessing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Routing is easy |
Sanding
| The sanding finish is generally good |
Screwing
| Excellent screw holding properties |
Turning
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Good results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to turn |
Polishing
| Excellent results |
Strength Properties
| Very heavy | ||||||||||||
| Density = very high | ||||||||||||
| Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high | ||||||||||||
| Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = very high |
Bilihuete is reported to be used locally for heavy construction because of its high strength and durability. The bitter inner bark, called cascara amarga, yields a fluid extract which is reported to be used to treat syphilis and scrofula since about 1880
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 18571 | 24696 | psi |
| Density | 61 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 1715 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 7144 | 9496 | psi |
| Specific Gravity | 0.77 | ||
| Weight | 61 | 50. | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 4 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 6 | % | |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 10 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 1305 | 1736 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 977 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 777 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 502 | 667 | kg/cm2 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.77 | ||
| Weight | 977 | 801. | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 4 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 6 | % |
References
Perpetua Hardwoods. Sea Star Trading Co. – Purveyors of Fine Wood. Newport, Oregon. Personal Communication, 1993.
Record, S.J. and R.W. Hess. 1943. Timbers of the New World. Published on the Charles Lathrop Pack Foundation, Yale University Press, New Haven CT