Wood inspector

Family:

Common names: Aceituna blanca, Aceituna cimarrona, Blueberry, Bois blanc, Bois bleu, Caca rat, Candlewood, Cauna, Ciponima, Graines Bleues, Horse sugar, Kakarat, Martinique sweetleaf, Sweetleaf, White beech, White box, Whitewood, Yellow wood

Distributed in: Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago (Central America)

Distribution overview: The species occurs in Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Tortola, nearly throughout Lesser Antilles from Saba to Grenada, and Trinidad & Tobago. It is also found in Central America in Belize, and in Guyana and French Guiana. It is also widely distributed in moist to moderately dry forests at low to high elevations in Puerto Rico.

Environment profile: Widespread

Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm

Colors: the heart isYellow, Yellowand the sapwoodWhite, Yellow.The grain isStraight, the textureMediumand the lusterMedium

Natural durability: Susceptible to insect attack, Very durable

Odor: No specific smell or taste

Kiln Drying Rate: Naturally dries quickly

Drying Defects: Checking, Distortion

Ease of Drying: Slowly

Comments: Wood is good quality but is scarce and small

Gluing: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult

Nailing: Pre-Boring Recommended

Resistance to Impregnation: Resistant sapwood

Response to hand tools: Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work

Steam bending: Poor to Very Poor Results

Turning: Very Good to Excellent Results

Polishing: Very Good to Excellent;