| OTHER COMMON NAMES: |
| Sangre, Palo de sangre (Guatemala, Honduras), Sangredrago
(Nicaragua), Fruta dorada (Costa Rica), Miguelarillo
(Panama), Sangre de toro (Colombia), Camaticaro
(Venezuela), Baboen (Surinam), Bicuiba (Brazil), Cumala
(Peru). |
| DISTRIBUTION |
Varying with species from Belize and Guatemala southward to Venezuela the Guianas, the Amazon region of
northern Brazil, southern Brazil, and on the Pacific Coast, to Peru and Bolivia; common in swamp and marsh
forests. |
| THE TREE |
| May reach a height of 140 ft with trunk diameters of 5 ft, usually much shorter and only 2 to 3 ft in diameter. Boles are heavily buttressed,
cylindrical, and clear for more than two-thirds of total height. |
 |
| DRYING AND SHRINKAGE: |
| Generally reported to be difficult to season with a strong tendency to warp and check as well as collapse and
honeycomb; thick stock slow to dry. Kiln schedule T3-C2 suggested for 4/4 stock and T3-C1 for 8/4.
Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 4.6%; tangential 8.8%; volumetric 13.7%. |
| DURABILITY |
| The wood is not resistant to attack by decay fungi
and is very susceptible to attack by termites and
other insects. Logs require prompt conversion or
water storage to prevent damage by pinhole borers. |
| WORKING PROPERTIES: |
| Works easily with both hand and machine tools and
produces a good finish, glues well; cuts well into
veneers. |
|
|
| MYRISTICACEAE |
 |
| TRADE NAME: |
| BANAK, BABOEN |
| COLOMBIAN NAME: |
| SOTO, VIROLA |
| |
| WOOD PROPERTIES |
| GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS |
| On drying and exposure, heartwood becomes a pinkish golden
brown or deep reddish brown; sapwood cream to tan color, not
always sharply demarcated. Luster low to medium; texture
rather coarse; grain straight; without distinctive odor or taste. |
| Weigth: Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) varies
considerably with species from about 0.36 to 0.61, commonly
0.44; air-dry density 27 to 46 pcf. |
| PRESERVATION |
| The timber is reported to be easily impregnated
with preservatives using either pressure-vacuum or
open-tank systems. |
| USES |
| Veneer and plywood, particleboard and fiberboard,
furniture components, boxes and crates, light construction,
general carpentry, millwork. Oil is extracted
from seeds of Virola and used in soaps and
candles. |
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