Wood inspector

Family: Apocynaceae

Common names: Ama apa, Ama-apa, Avichuri, Caw tree, Cow tree, Cuma assu, Cuma-assu, Cum￿ss￿kaballi, Guaimaro macho, Hosca, Leche caspi, Leche-caspi, Melk boom, Milktree, Palo de vaca, Pendare, Perillo, Perillo negro, Popa, Purva, Sorva, Vaca, Vacahosca

Distributed in: Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela (Central America, Latin America)

Distribution overview: An Amazonian species but also found in the Carare-Opon and Serrania de San Lucas regions of the Rio Magdalena in Colombia. Found mostly in low areas. Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, Peru, and Brazil.

Common uses: Beams, Bent Parts, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concrete formwork, Construction, Core Stock, Decks, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Fiberboard, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Office furniture, Packing cases, Particleboard, Plain veneer, Veneer

Environment profile: Status unknown in many of its growth areas

Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm

Colors: the heart isWhite to cream, Yellowand the sapwoodWhite, Yellow.The grain isWavy, the textureMediumand the lusterMedium

Natural durability: Susceptible to blue and sap-stain, Susceptible to insect attack

Odor: No specific smell or taste

Kiln Schedules: Drying (speed) is fast

Kiln Drying Rate: Naturally dries quickly

Drying Defects: Distortion, Splitting

Ease of Drying: Rapidly

Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight

Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good

Boring: Good results

Carving: Easy to carve

Cutting Resistance: Easy to saw

Gluing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Mortising: Worked surfaces tend to be woolly

Nailing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy, Good nailing properties

Planing: Very Good to Excellent

Resistance to Impregnation: Resistant sapwood

Response to hand tools: Easy to machine

Routing recessing: Routing yields good results

Sanding: Good sanding finish

Screwing: Easy to screw, Good screwing properties; Turning: Easy to turn