| OTHER COMMON NAMES: |
| Guayacan, Guayacan de bola (Colombia), Bera, Cuchivaro,
Vera aceituna (Venezuela). |
| DISTRIBUTION |
| Coastal region of Colombia and Venezuela, common on the dry foothills between Porto Cabello and Lake
Maracaibo. |
| THE TREE |
| Occasionally 100 ft tall but usually 40 to 50 ft with a trunk diameter of 14 to 20 in; boles slender, straight, and of rather good form,
free of branches for 15 to 20 ft. |
 |
| DRYING AND SHRINKAGE: |
| Owing to its high density and the resinous nature of the timber, the wood dries slowly and needs careful handling
to avoid splitting; also prone to ring shake. No shrinkage data available. |
| DURABILITY |
| Heartwood is very durable under exposure and will
last indefinitely in the ground. |
| WORKING PROPERTIES: |
| When seasoned, it is not easy to work either with
machine or hand tools but does turn well in the
lathe. |
|
|
| ZYGOPHYLLACEAE |
 |
| TRADE NAME: |
| VERAWOOD, MARACAIBO LIGNUM-VITAE, PALO SANTO |
| COLOMBIAN NAME: |
| GUAYACAN BOLA |
| |
| WOOD PROPERTIES |
| GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS |
| Heartwood more or less striped and banded, varying in color from light olive green to chocolate brown; surface of fresh wood often turns dark green upon exposure. Sapwood is mostly thin and light yellow in color. Fine textured; crossgrained; oily appearance and feel; mildly and pleasantly scented when warmed. |
| Weigth: Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) 1.00;
air-dry density 78 pcf. |
| PRESERVATION |
| Not treatable. |
| USES |
| Because of its high density and self-lubrication, has
many uses similar to that of Guaiacum but is not considered
as suitable for propeller-shaft bushings. |
| |
|
