Terminalia Amazonia (Nargusta)

Scientific Name
Terminalia amazonia

Trade Name
Nargusta

Family Name
Combretaceae

Synonyms
Terminalia odontoptera, Chuncoa amazonia, Chuncoa obovata, Gimbernata obvata

Common Names
Almendro, Amarillo carabazuelo, Amarillo de panama, Amarillon, Anangossiti, Angouchi, Araca, Bolador, Bullywood, Canshan, Chasemiich, Chicharro, Cochun, Coffee mortar, Cumbillo, Esemi, Fukadi, Ginja hoehoe, Guaba, Guacharaco, Guatuso, Guayabo, Guayabo leon, Guayabo negro, Guayabon, Guyabillo, Hill fukadi, Kil, Kung, Kwai, Leche amarillo, Matora, Merendiba branca, Monteclaro, Nangossiti, Naranjo, Nargusta, Pardillo negro, Pata de danto, Pau mulato brancho, Pookadi, Roble, Roble amarillo, Roble de esmeraldas, Roble macuelizo, Tamarotan, Tilautaea, Volador, White olive, White oliver

Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

Common Uses
Beams, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building construction, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Planks, Plywood, Posts, Railroad ties, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative

Environmental Profile

Distribution Overview
The natural growth range of the species extends from southern Mexico southward through Central America and into northern South America to Brazil and Peru. It is also found in Trinidad, and is a common tree in the Wallaba forests of Guyana. It is also regularly found in the forests of Belize.

Heartwood Color

The heartwood has a variegated yellow-brown to olive-brown color, occasionally with clear reddish stripes or streaks.

Sapwood Color

Grain

Texture

Luster

Natural Growth Defects
Trees with trunk diameters above 20 to 25 inches (50 to 62 cm) are often hollow at the center.

Natural Durability

Species should preferably be used under protection from the elements since it has little or no resistance to the destructive effects of the weather.

Weathering

Odor

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying

Center of thicker material is decidedly difficult to dry out.

Tree Identification

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect

Boring

Carving

Cutting Resistance

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

Movement in Service

Dimensional changes in response to fluctuations in atmospheric conditions are moderate after manufacture.

Nailing

Planing

Straight-Grained material is easy to plane. Wood with roey grain may pluck or tear in planing and may require reduced cutting angles for better results.

Resistance to Impregnation

Response to Hand Tools

Routing & Recessing

Sanding

Screwing

Turning

Veneering Qualities

Steam Bending

Polishing

Staining

Strength Properties

Bending strength (MOR) = medium

Numerical Data

References
Acosta-Solis, M.,1960,Maderas Economicas del Ecuador y sus Usos,Editorial Casa de la Culhra Ecuatoriana Quito

Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45

Belize,1946,42 Secondary Hardwood Timbers of British Honduras,British Honduras Forest Department Bulletin,No.1

Bena, P.,1960,Essences Forestieres de Guyane,Bureau Agricole et Forestier Guyanais Guyana

Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers – The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods – Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Brazier, J.D., Franklin, G.L.,1967,An Appraisal of the Wood Characteristics and Potential Uses of some,Nicaraguan Timbers,FAO for Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough

Brooks, R.L., et al,1941,Durability tests on Untreated Timbers in Trinidad,Caribbean Forester,2(3,pp101-119

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World No.1 Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 3 Southern Asia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

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CAOBA International, San Francisco, California. 1993. Personal Communication.

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods – Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London

Dickinson, F.E.,1949,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 1,Tropical Woods,13(95,pp1-140

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

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

Flores Rodriguez, L.J.,1969,Description Caracteristicas y usos de 25 Maderas tropicales,Mexicanas,Camera Nacional de la Industria de la Construccion Serie Maderas de Mexico

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research

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Highley, T.L., Scheffer, T.C.,1970,Natural Decay Resistance of 30 Peruvian Woods,U.S.A. Agriculture Department, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory,,Madison Research Paper,No.143

I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting

Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory

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Lavers, G.M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London.

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Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207

Marshall, R.C.,1934,Trees of Trinidad and Tobago,Government Printer Port of Spain Trinidad

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Perpetua Hardwoods. Sea Star Trading Co. – Purveyors of Fine Wood. Newport, Oregon. Personal Communication, 1993.

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Tim Mahoney. Handloggers Hardwood Lumber, Larkspur, California. Personal Communication, 1993.

Timber Development Association Ltd.,1948,Notes on Ecuadorian Timbers,TRADA, Timber Information,35,pp5

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