Parinari spp.

Burada

Foengoe

Family: Chrysobalanaceae

Other Common Names: Perefuetano (Colombia), Tostado (Venezuela), Aiomoradan, Burada (Guyana), Foengoe, Vonkhout (Surinam), Parinari, Pajura (Brazil), Uchpa-umari (Peru).

Distribution: The Guianas and the lower Amazon region of Brazil, but also in other areas of northern South America.

The Tree: May attain a height of 130 ft and a diameter of 48 in., usually up to 75 ft in height with diameters to 30 in. Boles may be up to 60 to 80 ft in length; commonly buttressed for a height of about 15 ft.

The Wood:

General Characteristics: Heartwood gray brown, yellow brown, or yellowish pink brown when freshly cut often a deep orange brown. Sapwood somewhat lighter colored and not clearly defined. Grain generally straight, sometimes interlocked; scattered pores coarse, otherwise texture is fine; luster mostly low; without distinctive odor or taste. Silica content up to about 2.0% is reported.

Weight: Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) varying with species 0.64 to 0.72; air-dry density 50 to 55 pcf.

Mechanical Properties: (First two sets of data based on the 2-in. standard; third set on the 1-in. standard.)

Moisture content Bending strength Modulus of elasticity Maximum crushing strength

(%) (Psi) (1,000 psi) (Psi)

Green (73) 12,750 2,120 5,800

12% 20,120 2,610 10,260

Green (73) 14,760 2,660 6,780

12% 21,740 2,930 11,960

12% (24) 19,600 2,480 9,850

Janka side hardness 1,270 lb for green wood and 1,830 lb at 12% moisture content. Forest Products Laboratory toughness average for green and dry material is 157 in.-lb. (5/8-in. specimen).

Drying and Shrinkage: The wood air-dries rapidly with only slight checking; warp is moderate. Kiln schedule T2-C2 for 4/4 stock is suggested, but only after prior air drying. Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 5.9%; tangential 10.0%; volumetric 14.6.

Working Properties: Because of high silica content and high density the woods are difficult to machine; cutters are dulled rapidly. However, smooth surfaces are obtained in all operations with proper maintenance of tools.

Durability: Laboratory pure culture evaluations generally show moderate durability in resistance to white-rot and brown-rot fungi. Field exposure tests, however, indicate high susceptibility to decay. Resistant to attack by marine borers.

Preservation: Reported to be treatable using a pressure-vacuum system, with good penetration and absorption of preservatives.

Uses: Marine construction; especially when continuously submerged to avoid decay fungi, ship keels, railroad crossties (treated).

Additional Reading: (24), (72), (73)

M 150 282-3Logs are delivered to a sawmill in southern Nigeria. African mahogany

(mostly Khaya ivorensis) is in high demand on overseas markets. Export of logs fro

this region, as well as from most other tropical areas, is being restricted.

M 150 282-2Band mills in Ghana are designed to handle logs 5 feet and more in

diameter. Obeche or Wawa (Triplochiton scleroxylon) logs yield lumber favored for

joinery and millwork.

M 150 273-14In many areas of the tropics, fast-growing species are being introduced

future supplies of fuel wood and industrial wood. Batai (Albizia falcataria) is

a favored plantation species in the Philipines.

M 150 273-13 Shores spp. is still the major timber group harvested in Southeast

Asia. With modern chain saws, fellers no longer need scaffolding to get above larg

buttresses.

M 150 281 Felling of white lauan or almon (Shorea a;mon) with axes in the early

1900s in the Philippines. Most hardwood plywood now imported into the USA is

produced from species of Shorea.

[M 150 273-9Plywood mill in San Jose, Costa Rica, produces rotary-cut veneers mostly from banak (Virola spp.) and crabwood or cedro macho (Carapa guianensis). Logs trucked in from the Caribbean coast.]

M 150 273-21Mahot or Tauary (Couratari spp.) grows from Panama south to the Brazilian Amazon. Trunk diameters may exceed 4 feet above the stout buttresses. In tropical American moist forests, single species usually make up less than 5 percent of the stand volume.

M 150 273-18Trees in the tropics yield not only wood but a wide array of gums, oil

resins, tannins, edible fruits, medicinals, latex, fodder, and much more. The para

rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) at the end of its tapping life is used to produce

attractive wood suitable for furniture components.

M 150 272-14Some European markets still prefer hand hewn greenheart (Ocotea rodiaei

for heavy marine construction. Work is being done on a river landing in Guyana.