Marupa (Simarouba glauca)
Family: Simaroubaceae
Common names: Aceitillo, Aceituna, Aceituno, Aceituno negrito, Bitter dam, Bitter damson, Bitter dan, Bitterwood, Boarwood, Bois blanc, Bois frene, Caixeta, Cedro amargo, Cedro blanco, Chiriuna, Cuna, Daguillo, Damsel, Frene, Gall tree, Gavilan, Guitarro, Gusano, Jocote, Jocote de mico, Jucumico, Malacacheta, Marouba, Maruba, Marupa, Mountain damson, Negrito, Olive amargo, Olivo, Paljul'te, Palo amargo, Palo blanco, Paradise tree, Parahyba, Paraiba, Pasa-ak, Pasac, Pasaque, Pau parahyba, Rabo de lagarto blanco, Roblecillo, Simarouba, Simaruba, Simarupa, Soemaroeba, Stavewood, Tamanqueira, X-pasak-il, Xpasak, Xpazakil, Zapatero
Distributed in: Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Suriname, United States, Venezuela (Central America, Latin America, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: The species occurs in Central and South America. It grows in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, French Guyane, Peru, Surinam, Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela.
Common uses: Blockboard, Boxes and crates, Cooperages, Furniture components, Furniture, Interior construction, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Moldings, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Packing cases, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Toys, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting
Product sources: The ITTO reports that the species is a regular source of timber. Small quantities are exported from the producing countries.
Environment profile: Status has not been officially assessed
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Colors: the heart isYellow, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodWhite, Yellow.The grain isWeak figure, the textureVery fineand the lusterPronounced
Natural durability: Very durable, Very little or no natural resistance to attack by decay fungi and wood destroying insects
Odor: No distinct odor or taste
Kiln Schedules: Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid
Kiln Drying Rate: Naturally dries slowly
Drying Defects: Slight twist/warp, Splitting
Ease of Drying: Thick Stock Requires Care
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is not buttressed
Blunting Effect: Moderate
Boring: Fairly easy to very easy
Carving: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Cutting Resistance: Internal stresses in trees may cause logs to split during sawing
Gluing: Surface Preparation
Mortising: Very Good to Excellent
Moulding: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Movement in Service: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Nailing: Pre-Boring Recommended, Very Good to Excellent
Planing: Very Good to Excellent
Resistance to Impregnation: Responds very well to preservative treatment
Response to hand tools: Responds Readily
Routing recessing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Sanding: Very Good to Excellent Results
Veneering qualities: Veneers easily, Veneers moderately easy
Steam bending: Poor to Very Poor Results
Screwing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy, Pre-boring recommended; Turning: Very Good to Excellent Results
Painting: Poor to Very Poor; Polishing: Very Good to Excellent; Staining: Finish is generally good; Varnishing: Very Good to Excellent;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
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 |
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Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,37 |
|
|
Density |
|
464 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
429 |
690 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
150 |
323 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
144 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
|
|
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
62 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
95 |
99 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
5 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
2 |
|
% |
Weight |
528 |
432 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
|
|
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
|
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 6111 | 9822 | psi | Density | | 29 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 319 | lbs | Maximum Crushing Strength | 2139 | 4608 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 882 | psi | Stiffness | 1358 | 1409 | 1000 psi | Specific Gravity | 0.37 | | | Weight | 33 | 27 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 2 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 5 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 6 | | % | |
Shrinkage, Radial = very small 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Very small Shrinkage, Volumetric = very small Mor/Bending strength = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Max. crushing strength = low
The bending strength of the species is considered medium, being much weaker than White oak or Teak in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). It is weak in compression parallel to grain (maximum crushing strength), and is inferior to Mahogany. It is of average, or medium, density.
Belize,1946,42 Secondary Hardwood Timbers of British Honduras,British Honduras Forest Department Bulletin,No.1Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1952,Simarouba,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.26,pp389-92Brazier, 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 RisboroughBritton, N.L., Millspaugh, C.F.,1920,The Bahama Flora,Britton & Millspaugh,New YorkBrown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse UniversityChudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.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 MexicoFors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La HabaraHess, R.W., Wangaard, F.F., Dickinson, F.E.,1950,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 2,Tropical Woods,13(97,pp1-132Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.ITTO. 1986. Tropical Timber Atlas, Volume 1 - Africa. Prepared for International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) by Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, Division of CIRAD, 45bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex, France.Kukachka, B.F.,1960,Marupa (Simarouba amara Aubl.,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Foreign Wood Series No.1956 (Revised)Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University PressRecord, S.J., Mell, C.D.,1924,Timbers of Tropical America,Yale Univ. PressRecord, S.J.,1927,Trees of Honduras,Tropical Woods,10, pp10-47Reyes, L.J. 1938. Philippine Woods. Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Technical Bulletin 7, Commonwealth of the Philippines, Bureau of Printing, Manila.Schulz, H., Grotthuss, O.K.N. von,1969,Investigacion de Algunas Especies Arboreas de los Bossques Tropicales de,Mexico (tercera parte,Mexico y sus Bosques,3(25,pp4-22Swabey, C.,1941,The Principal Timbers of Jamaica,Department of Science and Agriculture Jamaica Bulletin No.29
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