Greenheart (Ocotea rodiaei)
Family: Lauraceae
Common names: Achiamandola, Bebeeree, Bebeereen, Bebeeru, Beberu, Beberubaum, Beberuboom, Beeberoe, Bibiju, Bibir, Bibira, Bibiri, Bibiro, Bibiroo, Bibiru, Bibirubaum, Biburu, Black greenheart, Brown greenheart, Bull forehead greenheart, Cipiri, Cogwood, Demerara, Demerara greenheart, Demerara groenhart, Detema, Geelhart, Greenheart, Groen hart, Groenhartboom, Gruenherzbaum, Grunherzbaum, Grunholz, Ispingo moena, Itauba, Itaube, Kevatuk, Kut, Kwatuk, Kwatuk sipu, Maratakka, Pakouli, Queenwood, Rora, Rora-ek, Sepeira, Sepeiro, Sepira, Sipira, Sipiri, Sipiroe, Sipu, Supeira, Torchwood, Tugui, Tugul, Viruviru, Wainop, White greenheart, Yellow greenheart
Distributed in: Bahamas, Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, Venezuela (Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: The natural range of the species includes Guyana, Surinam, and Venezuela. It is also reported to occur from the Maroni region of western French Guyana to northern Brazil. Commercial quantities are found in the northern and central regions of Guyana
Common uses: Agricultural implements, Barge fenders, Billiard-cue butts, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bobbins, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Construction, Decks, Docks, Dockwork, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Filter press plates, Fishing rods, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Lock gates, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Naval architecture, Picker sticks, Pile-driver cushions, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Raft floats, Rafts, Railroad ties, Shade rollers, Shuttles, Specialty items, Spindles, Spools, Sporting Goods, Stencil & chisel blocks, Structural work, Sub-flooring, Sucker rods, Tool handles, Turnery, Umbrella handles , Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wharf construction, Wheel spokes
Product sources: The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced at a regular rate. Exportation is also regular. Greenheart is marketed principally in Europe, with only limited quantities coming to the US market. It is available only in the lumber form from a few principal importers, and is typically priced in the expensive range.
Environment profile: Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Colors: the heart isYellow to golden-yellow to orange, Yellowish to greenishand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Yellow.The grain isWeak figure, the textureUniformand the lusterLustrous
Natural durability: Very durable, Very durable
Odor: Seasoned material has no specific odor or taste
Kiln Schedules: UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3
Kiln Drying Rate: Very slow
Drying Defects: Slight twist/warp, Splitting
Ease of Drying: Slowly
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as poor
Blunting Effect: Moderate to high blunting effect on cutting edges
Boring: Fairly difficult to very difficult
Carving: Poor carving characteristics
Cutting Resistance: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Gluing: Good gluing properties
Mortising: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Moulding: Very Good to Excellent
Movement in Service: Very Good to Excellent
Nailing: Pre-Boring Recommended, Pre-boring recommended
Planing: Very Good to Excellent
Resistance to Impregnation: Resistant sapwood
Response to hand tools: Moderate working qualities
Sanding: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Veneering qualities: Veneers easily, Veneers moderately easy
Steam bending: Moderate
Screwing: Pre-boring recommended
; Turning: Very good
Polishing: Very Good to Excellent; Staining: Very Good to Excellent; Varnishing: Very Good to Excellent;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
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 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,75 |
0,95 |
|
Density |
|
1009 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
1369 |
1838 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
702 |
931 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
1176 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
114 |
149 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
165 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
189 |
227 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
9 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
7 |
|
% |
Weight |
977 |
801 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,91 |
1,54 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
|
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 19476 | 26150 | psi | Density | | 63 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 2593 | lbs | Impact Strength | 45 | 59 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 9990 | 13250 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 2353 | psi | Stiffness | 2696 | 3241 | 1000 psi | Work to Maximum Load | 13 | 22 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.75 | 0.95 | | Weight | 61 | 50 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 7 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 9 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 15 | | % | |
Max. crushing strength = very high 0 Bending strength (MOR) = very high 0 Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high 0 Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft 0 Hardness (side grain) = hard 0 Shrinkage, Radial = large 0 Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large 0 Shrinkage, Tangential = large Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft Shrinkage, Tangential = small Max. crushing strength = high Very heavy Very hard Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Density (dry weight) = >75 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Greenheart is two times harder than Oak, two times stronger in bending, compression parallel to grain, and resistance to shock, and more than twice as stiff.
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