Scientific Name
Licania micrantha
Trade Name
Anaura
Family Name
Chrysobalanaceae
Common Names
Anaura, Foengoe, Grigri, Gris-gris, Gris-gris coumate, Gris-gris rouge, Kauston, Marish, Marishiballi, Sponsoe hoedoe
Regions of Distribution
Latin America
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana
Common Uses
Bridge construction, Charcoal, Fuelwood, Heavy construction, Marine construction, Posts
Environmental Profile
| Abundant/Secure | ||||||||||||
| Rare |
Distribution Overview
Licania species are widely distributed in tropical America but most abundant in the Guianas and the lower Amazon region of Brazil. Frequent in the overflow woodlands of the Amazon estuary but also in upland forests.
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Black | ||||||||||||
| Purple | ||||||||||||
| Pink | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Dark brown | ||||||||||||
| Pale red to pink | ||||||||||||
| Greenish to greyish |
Sapwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Green/Grey | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Pink | ||||||||||||
| Different than heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Clearly differentiated from the heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Paler than heartwood |
Grain
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked |
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked |
Texture
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Even or uniform | ||||||||||||
| Uniform | ||||||||||||
| Fine |
Luster
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| High | ||||||||||||
| Slightly lustrous |
Natural Durability
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from marine borers | ||||||||||||
| Durable |
Silica Content
| Severe |
Toxicity
| Some toxic effects |
Kiln Schedules
| K=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2 |
Drying Defects
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Collapse | ||||||||||||
| Discoloration | ||||||||||||
| Internal Honeycombing Possible | ||||||||||||
| Slight twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Slight surface checking | ||||||||||||
| Moderate twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Moderate surface checking |
Ease of Drying
| Moderately Difficult to Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Rapidly | ||||||||||||
| Moderate | ||||||||||||
| Difficult |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is not buttressed | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is cylindrical |
Tree Size
| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 40-50 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Bark width is 5-10 mm | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 60-70 m | ||||||||||||
| Bark width is 0-5 mm | ||||||||||||
| Bark width is 10-15 mm |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| Little | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on machining is severe |
Boring
| Fairly easy to very easy | ||||||||||||
| Very good to excellent results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to good results | ||||||||||||
| Moderately easy |
Carving
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw |
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Mortising
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Moulding
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Movement in Service
| Unstable with Poor Stability – Large Movement | ||||||||||||
| Large |
Nailing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Planing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Planes well, to a good finish |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Permeable sapwood |
Resistance to Splitting
| Poor |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Responds Readily | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to machine |
Routing & Recessing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Sanding
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Screwing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Turning
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Poor results |
Veneering Qualities
| Suitable for peeling | ||||||||||||
| Veneers easily | ||||||||||||
| Suitable for slicing | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to veneer | ||||||||||||
| Veneers moderately easy |
Steam Bending
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Painting
| Fair to Good Results |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Staining
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 61 – 67 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 53 – 60 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Density | 51 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Weight | 50 | 49 | lbs/ft3 |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Density | 817 | kg/m3 |
References
Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series
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
Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207
Vink, A.T.,1965,Surinam Timbers,Surinam Forest Service Paramaribo,3rd rev. ed