Mora (Mora excelsa)
Family: Leguminosae
Common names: Alcornoque, Belarbre, Black mora, King tree, Mahot rouge, Mora, Mora bucquia, Mora de gulayana, Mora de guyana, Mora peto, Mora-yek, Moraballi, Moraboekea, Morabukea, Morade-guyana, Moreira, Muro, Nato, Nato rojo, Palaloea, Parakaua, Perakaua, Peto, Peto prakowa, Pracuuba, Pracuuba branca, Pracuuba vermelha, Prakue, Red mora, Roode, Roode more, Torore, White mora, Witte mora
Distributed in: Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela (Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: The species occurs widely in the Guianas, and less frequently in the Orinoco Delta of Venezuela. It is a dominant species on river levees and flood plains, and forms dense stands.
Common uses: Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Charcoal, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Piling, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Wharf construction, Wheels
Product sources: The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber for local consumption. Export potential is rated as fair.
Environment profile: Status has not been officially assessed
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Colors: the heart isYellow to golden-yellow to orange, Yellowish-Red brown and the sapwoodYellow, Yellowish brown.The grain isWavy, the textureMedium coarse to coarseand the lusterPronounced
Natural durability: Susceptible to marine borer attack, Very durable
Odor: Slightly sour odor
Kiln Schedules: UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2
Kiln Drying Rate: Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm)
Drying Defects: Slight collapse and honeycomb, Slight surface checking
Ease of Drying: Variable results.
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is cylindrical
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect: Little
Boring: Straight grained wood bores well
Carving: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Cutting Resistance: Easy to saw
Gluing: Poor to Very Poor Results
Mortising: Poor to Very Poor
Moulding: Poor to Very Poor
Movement in Service: Poor to Very Poor
Nailing: Possible if prebored, Very Good to Excellent
Planing: Poor to Very Poor
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable
Response to hand tools: Responds Readily
Routing recessing: Poor to Very Poor Results
Veneering qualities: Diifficult to veneer, No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting
Steam bending: Moderate
Screwing: Poor to Very Poor Results, Very Good to Excellent Results; Turning: Poor to Very Poor Results
Painting: Poor to Very Poor; Polishing: Satisfactory; Staining: Finish is generally satisfactory
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- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
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 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,7 |
0,89 |
|
Density |
|
993 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
898 |
1481 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
71 |
88 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
1099 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
83 |
104 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
153 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
154 |
189 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
10 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
6 |
|
% |
Weight |
961 |
929 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,84 |
1,12 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
256 |
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
622 |
898 |
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 12777 | 21076 | psi | Crushing Strength | 1019 | 1254 | psi | Density | | 62 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 2425 | lbs | Impact Strength | 33 | 41 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 7061 | 11196 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 2183 | psi | Static Bending | 8859 | 12779 | psi | Stiffness | 2193 | 2693 | 1000 psi | Toughness | | 223 | inch-lbs | Work to Maximum Load | 12 | 16 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.7 | 0.89 | | Weight | 60 | 58 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 6 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 10 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 19 | | % | |
Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high 0 Max. crushing strength = high Max. crushing strength = very high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Hardness (side grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Bending strength (MOR) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Work to Maximum Load = low Weight = very high Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Max. crushing strength = low Density = very high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high
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Tropical Woods - Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods, Volume III, No. 98. School of Forestry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.Wangaard, F.F., W.L. Stern, and S.L. Goodrich. 1955. Tropical Woods - Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods, Volume V, No. 103. School of Forestry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series
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