
Jagua (Genipa americana)
Family: Rubiaceae
Common names: Angelina, Arasaloe, Bi, Bois de fer, Brir, Caruto, Caruto rebalsero, Gene pas, Genepas, Genip, Genipa, Genipap, Genipapa, Genipapeiro, Genipapo, Genipapo do matto, Genipat, Genipayer, Genipo, Geniptree, Gigualti, Guaitil, Guaitil blanco, Hagua, Haitoc, Huito, Huitoc, Irayol, Jacua, Jagua, Jagua azul, Jagua blanco, Janipha, Jenipapo, Jenipayer, Junipa, Junipapo, Juniper, Juripapo, Lana, Maluco, Nandigua, Nandipa, Palo colorado, Ta, Tapaculo, Taparoepa, Taproepa, Xagua
Distributed in: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico [US], Suriname, Venezuela (Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: General distribution throughout tropical America, from the West Indies and Mexico to Argentina including Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Peru and Brazil. Widely planted for its shade and fruit. Found on well drained soils as well as periodically flooded river banks.
Common uses: Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plain veneer, Plywood, Poles, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shafts/Handles, Skis, Sporting Goods, Stools, Structural plywood, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Toothpicks, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wooden shoes
Environment profile: Widespread
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm
Colors: the heart isYellow to golden-yellow to orange, Yellowish brownand the sapwoodSame as heartwood, White to yellow.The grain isStriped figure, the textureMediumand the lusterMedium
Natural durability: Vulnerable to attack by dry-wood termites, Vulnerable to attack by pinhole borers
Odor: No specific smell or taste
Kiln Schedules: Dry at a slow speed
Drying Defects: Slight surface checking, Slight twist/warp
Ease of Drying: Thick Stock Requires Care
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is not buttressed
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good Genipa fruit is used for the production of a sour refreshing drink. An indelible stain is prepared from the immature fruit.
Blunting Effect: Little
Boring: Fairly easy to very easy
Carving: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Cutting Resistance: Low cutting resistance
Gluing: Satisfactory gluing properties
Mortising: Very Good to Excellent
Moulding: Good finishing
Movement in Service: Good finishing
Nailing: Difficult to nail, Holds nails well
Planing: Very Good to Excellent
Resistance to Impregnation: Resistant sapwood
Resistance to Splitting: Good
Response to hand tools: Responds Readily
Routing recessing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Sanding: Yields smooth surfaces
Turning: Good results
Polishing: Good; Staining: Staining (Characteristic) = coloured water-soluble extract; Varnishing: Good;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,53 |
0,62 |
|
Density |
|
737 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
792 |
1259 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
329 |
543 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
728 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
|
|
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
143 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
90 |
127 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
8 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
4 |
|
% |
Weight |
721 |
608 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
|
|
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
207 |
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 11267 | 17912 | psi | Density | | 46 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 1606 | lbs | Maximum Crushing Strength | 4685 | 7735 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 2043 | psi | Stiffness | 1292 | 1807 | 1000 psi | Toughness | | 180 | inch-lbs | Specific Gravity | 0.53 | 0.62 | | Weight | 45 | 38 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 4 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 13 | | % | |
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high
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