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PúNULA (Quararibea asterolepis)
Trade Name
Púnula
Scientific Name
Quararibea asterolepis Pittier
Family
BOMBACACEAE
Common Names
Punula; Aspai; Guayabo (Panama); Madre De Cacao (Mexico); Veroity (Brazil); Aspaí (Venezuela); Zapotillo (Peru); Zapotillo (Colombia); Púnula (Colombia)
Scientific Name Synonyms
Quararibea stenophylla Pittier; Quararibea asterolepis subsp. Stenophylla
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
Tree size is reported to attain a height of about 18m in the average, with a trunk diameter that can reach up to 45 cm over the buttresses, which can be up to 6 m long. Usually develops a fluted stem.
Natural Distribution
This species occurs in Central and northern South America down to Peru.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Vessels solitary and in short radial multiples. Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100 to 150 micras (small). Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to intervessel pits in size and shape. Paratracheal axial parenchyma thin vasicentric. Axial parenchyma reticulate. Siliceous bodies in the axial parenchyma cells. Axial parenchyma in narrow bands on lines up to 3 cells wide. 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Larger rays more than 4 seriate. Silica bodies in the ray cells. Prismatic crystals in the ray cells. Body ray cells procumbent with mostly 2 to 4 rows of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-II). Non-septate fibers. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Odor
Odor and taste are indistinct.
Color
The wood is not clearly differentiated, the heartwood is pale yellow.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
5
Grain
The grain is usually straight.
Texture
This wood has a somewhat medium texture.
Luster
The wood surface is moderate in luster.
Natural Durability
The wood is non-durable when exposed to the weather.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
5
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.49
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.53
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
7.1
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
3.9
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Timber of heavy Cordia is reported to be difficult to dry. Drying Defects: It develops surface checking and end splitting.
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
JUNAC-A
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.8
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
767
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
107000
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
422
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
70
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
85
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
509
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
458
Workability
Machining
It is easy to machine.
Turning
30
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, fittings, shutter boards, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, TURNING, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, handicrafts
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Fittings
- 19 - Silica in Timbers
Shutter Boards
- 20 - Prospect: The wood database
Furniture Cabinets
- 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Cabinet
- 24 - Empire Timbers
Panels, Veneers
- 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Turning
- 30 - Embassy of Honduras in Japan
Handcraft
- 66 - Maderas latinoamericanas. VII. Caracteristicas anatomicas. propiedades fisicomecanicas, de secado, y tratabilidad de la madera juvenil de Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav. Oken.)
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