This is a new wood to the San Francisco Bay region, introduced about 1927. When it becomes better known it should become popular for specialties in furniture, fixtures, turnery, novelties, and interior trim. The color and figure vary considerably. The wood is easy to work and holds its shape well. The native name, pronounced with five syllables with accent on the "u", has been shortened in the trade to "Macuba wood."

Common Name(s) : Macrocarpa, Macro The species originates in California.  In New Zealand, the species is grown throughout the country, primarily as shelter belts on farms. There are no specific forests of Macrocarpa, and there have not been any commercial plantings. In New Zealand, the timber is graded into Clears grade, Dressing grade, and a Utility grade. The timber machines and sands well and is suitable for end use applications requiring a high quality finish. Macrocarpa performs well in furniture manufacture, joinery manufacture, panelling, and flooring. The Utility grade is a general purpose grade suitable for a diverse range of low grade applications. 485 kg/m3
Durablity Heartwood Moderately durable above ground Sapwood Non durable Prone to shrinkage and distortion Stable
AVAILABILITYSupply is limited, and sizes larger than 150x50 are very difficult to source.

Trade or Common Name: Madero negro, blackwood, madre de cacao Local Name: Madero negro  
The Tree: In the same family as Cocobolo, Madero negro is a narrow-crowned, medium-sized or sub-canopy, deciduous 
rainforest tree, sometimes reaching 60 feet in the natural rainforest. Madero negro is leguminous, or nitrogen-fixing. 
Status: Originally exploited for its durability in contact with the soil, Madero negro now occurs only rarely in the natural 
forest. It has been planted ornamentally because of its beautiful pink flowers. It is also sometimes seen in cacao plantations, 
because its ability to fix nitrogen enhances the growth of the cacao. The Wood: Madero negro is very hard, black or dark 
brown, with a beautiful small fleck. It turns well and takes a high polish. Madero negro is very resistant to insects and fungus. 
Uses: Because of its strength and durability in contact with the soil, madero negro was originally prized for corner fence posts 
and as supports for houses, but it is now used for its beauty in furniture, turnery, and artisanry.

see Madrone,  Pacific

see Madrone,  Pacific

Also known as madrone, coast madrone, madrona, madrono, and arbuti tree. Grows along the Pacific coast of United States and Canada. Straight to irregular grain with a fine texture. Light pink to pale reddish brown heartwood and cream colored sapwood with a pink tinge. Resembles pear in texture and apple in color. Heavy, hard, and strong with moderate stiffness and shock resistance. Tends to warp during drying but once dried, it is stable in service. Low decay resistance. Works reasonably well in spite of its hardness. Turns well. Gluing can be challenging, especially if wood not completely seasonsed. Stains easily and polishes to a beautiful sheen. Used for bowls, novelties, turned articles, tool handles, inlay, core stock, paneling, flooring, and interior furniture. Madrone burls prized for decorative veneers and pipes.

see Madrone,  Pacific

see Madrone,  Pacific

Also known as evergreen magnolia, southern magnolia, sweet magnolia, cucumber wood, black lin, bat tree, and bull bay. Grows in United States and Britain. Generally straight grained with a close uniform texture. Light to dark brown heartwood tinged with yellow or green and yellowish white sapwood. Resembles yellow-poplar. Moderately heavy, hard, strong, and stiff with good shock resistance and steam bending properties. Low natural decay resistance. Turns and otherwise machines well, resists splitting, and glues very well. Finishes easily - often painted. Requires little sanding. Stable in service. Used for venetian-blind slats, cabinet frames, interior furniture and trim, toys, novelties, turned bowls, food containers (does not impart taste or odor), boxes, pallets, doors, dowels, veneer, and pulp. The best known of our native magnolias, because the tree is evergreen and because of its showy flowers. Widely planted in parks and on lawns. A native of the southeastern states. Occasionally reaches a size of 41/2' x 135', but averages 3' x 100'. The wood resembles that of yellow-poplar and is used as a substitute for it. It is somewhat harder than that of yellow-poplar, but is easy to work and holds its shape well. Sometimes it is streaked with black. Used for cabinets, special refrigerators, models, furniture, fixtures and veneers

see Magnolia

see Magnolia 

see Magnolia

New Zealand

Whiteywood

Trade or Common Name: Mahogany, true or genuine mahogany, bigleaf mahogany, Honduras mahogany  
Local Name: Caoba Botanical Name: Swietenia macrophylla Family: Meliaceae The Tree: In the natural rainforest, 
Mahogany is a very large canopy tree, sometimes reaching over 150 feet in height, with trunks sometimes more 
than 6 feet in diameter above a large basal buttress. It is a generally open-crowned tree, with gray to brownish-red 
fissured bark. Status: Mahogany is perhaps the most valuable timber tree in the whole of Latin America and has 
been heavily exploited for most of this century. Mahogany is becoming increasingly rare, and is already extinct 
in parts of its original range. It is listed as threatened in "Arboles Maderables en Peligro de Extinción en Costa Rica" 
and is listed in CITES Appendix III. The Wood: Mahogany varies from yellowish, reddish, pinkish, or salmon colored
 when freshly cut, to a deep rich red, to reddish brown as the wood matures with age. Mahogany is fine to medium 
texture, with uniform to interlocking grain, ranging from straight to wavy or curly. Irregularities in the grain often produce 
highly attractive figures such as fiddleback or mottle. Mahogany polishes to a high luster, with excellent working and
 finishing characteristics. It responds well to hand and machine tools, has good nailing and screwing properties, 
and turns and carves superbly. Uses: Mahogany is regarded by many as the world's premier wood for fine cabinetry, 
high-class furniture, trimming fine boats, pianos and other musical instruments, sculpture, joinery, turnery, figured 
and decorative veneer, interior trim, and carving.American mahogany. True mahogany. The most 
 popular of the fancy 
cabinet and furniture woods. In the U.S. it is only 
 found in Southern Florida. Its range, however, includes the West Indies, 
the 
 Gulf coast of Mexico and the coast of Central America. Sometimes attains 
 maximum size of 5' x 200'. Several tropical 
woods resemble the true 
 mahogany, but none equal it for technical qualities or beauty. The wood is 
 strong and durable 
and seasons well. It is used for patterns, cabinets, 
 interior finish and fixtures. 

see Sapele

Also known as Honduras mahogany, true mahogany, genuine mahogany, bigleaf mahogany, cao, caoba, cobano, acajou, and aguano. Grows from southern Mexico to Brazil. Generally straight grained, but sometimes roey, wavy, or curly, with a fine to coarse, uniform texture. Pale pink to dark reddish brown heartwood and yellowish white sapwood. Variable, but generally moderate weight, hardness, and strength. Low stiffness and shock resistance. Very good stability and decay resistance. Moderate steam bending rating. Excellent working properties, including cutting, turning, shaping, sanding, and gluing. Finishes easily with a variety of finishes, although filling may be required for ultimate smoothness. Renowned for high-class cabinetry and furniture. Also used for paneling, turnery, carving, patterns, dies, model making, veneers, flooring, boat building, and musical instruments. Honduran Mahogany is the world's traditional choice for the finest furniture and millwork. It is used only occasionally for flooring as it lacks sufficient hardness to hold up traffic. WFI offers Royal Mahogany as our closest substitute visually as well as our Santos Mahogany. Honduran Mahogany offers a medium degree of color variability from pale orange/browns through to darker orangey browns. Honduran Mahogany undergoes a large degree of color change, with pronounced darkening from a light orangey brown when fresh cut to deep mahogany color as it fully ages

Also known as akuk, bandoro, benin mahogany, degema, lagos wood, acajou, khaya, Nigerian mahogany, Ivory Coast mahogany, and Gold Coast mahogany. Grows throughout West Africa. Interlocked or straight grain, often with a ribbon figure, and a moderately coarse texture. Creamy-white sapwood and reddish brown heartwood, often with a purple cast. Moderately heavy and hard with medium bending and crushing strength, low stiffness and shock resistance, moderate decay resistance, and good stability in use. Poor steam bending rating. Works fairly easily although interlocked, woolly grain can be troublesome. Glues, nails, and screws satisfactorily. Stains and polishes to an excellent finish. Used for furniture, cabinetry, high class joinery, interior trim, boat building, vehicle bodies, paneling, plywood, and decorative veneers. Generally cheaper and more abundant than American mahogany.

see Mahogany, African

brown / red medium moderately durable 540 kg m-3 high quality joinery, furniture, boat building

see Mahogany (So. Amer)

see Mahogany, African

see Mahogany (So. Amer)

see Mahogany, African

Light Red Lauan Heartwood is pale straw colour when first cut. Sapwood is often indistinguishable from heartwood. Texture is even and coarse. Grain is usually interlocking, giving striped figure on the radial surface. Internal lining, Finishing material, joinery The timber is used for plywood, furniture, joinery, and internal mouldings. Light Red Mahogany is easy to work if tools are kept sharp. Interlocking grain needs careful dressing. This timber nails and glues well . Sapwood is susceptible to lyctid borer attack. Heartwood is not sufficiently durable for external use and is resistant to impregnation with preservatives.550 kg/cu.m

see Cherry, Black

see Mahogany, African

Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Panama, Guatemala, & MexicoSantos Mahogany is rich dark mahogany colored wood, which is a superior choice to genuine mahogany, (which it resembles in color), given Santos Mahogany’s hardness and color fastness. Santos Mahogany exhibits a medium range of color variation between a light orangey/brown with yellowish overtones to a dark reddish/purplish brown.  Most of the specie falls into the medium to dark orange/brown mahogany tone. Santos Mahogany undergoes a slight degree of color change with a  slight muting of the color range over time.

see Sapele

see Sapele

see Mahogany (So. Amer)

Khaya anthotheca

ranges in colour from light brown to dark red, straight grained with areas of interlocking grain.

Timber seasons well and is used for cabinet making, veneers and high class joinery and furniture

Non durable

Yellow Stringybark (Queensland) White Mahogany is similar in appearance to tallowwood being yellow-brown with a distinct and paler sapwood. Texture is medium and even with a grain which is commonly interlocking. Markings of distinction are moth grub holes and occasional gum veining. Structural, External cladding White Mahogany is used for framing and decking above ground in both protected and unprotected contexts. Other uses include pole and heavy engineering construction work, shipbuilding and for sleepers. A durable tough timber that is hard to work. White Mahogany has a heartwood that is very durable. The sapwood is not susceptible to lyctid attack. 1000 kg/cu.m

Mahogany, Dark Red Phillipine Purplish Brown Heartwood displays various shades of red. Sapwood is quite distinguished from heartwood being a cream to pale grey. Texture is even and coarse with an interlocking grain given to a ribbon figure when sawn radially. Internal lining, Finishing material, joinery Dark red mahogany is used in internal and external joinery, furniture, boat building and plywood products. Dark red mahogany is easy to work. However, tools must be kept sharp. This timber glues and peels well. Heartwood moderately durable and may be used above ground externally if in a fairly protected environment. Do not use in the ground. 650 kg/cu.m

see Teak, Burmese

 Black maire / White Maire

Aka African Cherry, Baku, Makore, Douka, Ukola Central Africa along the western coast Sierra Leone to Cameroon Grows mostly in the high rain forests reaching heights of 180 to 200ft. Trunk diameters from 4-10 ft. Medium texture with straight fine grain Heartwood is pink to pinkish-brown. Sapwood is lighter Makore has a high silica content that can cause blunting of cutting edges. Excellent finishing properties and good gluing properties. Heartwood is highly durable and resistant to insect attack. Stability: Excellent Furniture, cabinetry and turning. Used often in veneer form. Also used often in marine plywood and boat building. The fine dust from Makore may cause nose and throat irritations and/or dermatitis Makore Definition: African hardwood kind. Color: light red, easily after-darkening. Characteristics: hard wood ( hardwood ), very flexibly ( elasticity ), to work on well shrinks only moderately ( decrease forms of the wood ), weather-proof, resistantly against insects and mushrooms . Use: Ship and boat building, doors - and window construction , veneers , furniture, interior fittings, plywood , foot and parquet soils. Disadvantage: Wood dust provokes the mucous membranes 

see Rosewood, Indian

Sapwood is yellowish and sharply defined from the heartwood, which is brown with a distinct reddish tinge. Grain is fairly straight. Texture is moderately fine and even. Used for heavy construction, boat construction, posts and shingles. It is a popular substitute for the more durable Belian 

see Meranti,

Persimmon From Japan Attains a height of 30 feet and a diameter of 22 inches. The heartwood is very hard and black and used as a substitute for ebony. Sapwood because of striations is used as an ornamental wood in cabinet making, wood mosaics, etc.  

Tree of 10 the 35 meters of height, gift in the Amazon region. Its wood is used for internal use in the civil construction, compensated, boxes and packings, scaffolding of furniture, etc. 730 kg low to moderate durability

A hard and heavy wood, similar to Yacal but lighter in weight and not as durable. Used in building construction, shipbuilding, piles, planks and masts. 

New Zealand

Limited supply from non commercial sources only. densite 595 kg/cum

Very good for steam bending - easy tio work

Renowned for its delicious fruit, mango is a common tree in most tropical countries. Growing to girth measurements often exceeding 18 feet (5.4 meters), Mango trees supply a ready source of large, reasonably soft, stable timber for use in all facets of the timber craft industry. This timber is particularly susceptible to and is encouraged to accept, spalting. This is a natural phenomena produced when some species of timber are subjected to semi-moist conditions over extended periods. Mildew, watermarking and the forerunners of rot begin to appear, therefore care must be exercised in the control of the process and careful drying is resumed before any destruction occurs. Timber treated in this way displays amazing markings in the finished product. While these markings are deliberately encouraged, the process is a natural one and spalted wood can be sourced from the forest.

 The mangosteen tree is a small, slow growing tropical evergreen with leathery, glabrous leaves up to 10 inches long. Fruits are borne on lateral branches. They have a thick rind, which encloses 5 to 7 fleshy segments, in which the seeds are imbedded. The pulp, the only part consumed, has excellent flavor, proclaimed by many as the best among tropical fruits. Often two crops per year mature, one in the autumn, and one in early summer. The proportion of edible pulp is rather small. The trees often bear sparingly. Culture is limited except in tropical India and the East Indies. The tree appears to be adapted best to strictly tropical areas and requires abundant moisture.

AKA Ribbon Gum Pale pink to pinkish brown Flooring, Internal lining, joinery Easy to work. Nailing near the ends of boards may require pre-drilling Not sufficiently durable for exposed applications 750 kg m-3

 Heartwood is yellowish brown or greyish brown banded with lighter colours which gives the timber a similar appearance to walnut The sapwood is a whitish colour

Used as a walnut substitute in furniture fittings and panelling

New Zealand

Tea tree

see Maple, Bigleaf    Maple, more often known as Sycamore, is an extremely fine variety that is much used in decorative work due to its appearance and fine grain. Indistinct cambium. Perfect wood: white to pale yellow. Fine grain. Interior joinery: furniture. Veneers. Sculpture. Cabinet making. Marquetry. Light –coloured but very readily stained, maple is a perfect variety for decorative veneers, marquetry and furniture. 700 kg/m3

For some reason, not definitely know, may trees of the eastern Hard or Sugar Maple produce boards in which the grain is very distorted. Birdseye maple is one form, and is common. Boards so figured are prized for bedroom furniture, frames, mantels, turnery, cabinet-making, etc. Used more as a veneer than as a solid piece. It is the same species that yields maple sugar, the plain wood of which is so highly valued for flooring. 

see Maple, Bigleaf

Also known as broadleaf maple, Oregon maple, Pacific coast maple, western maple, white maple, or maple. Western North America Generally straight, but sometimes curly grained with a relatively coarse texture. Pale pinkish-brown to almost white sapwood and heartwood, often with a grayish cast. Moderately heavy, hard, strong, and stiff with low bending strength, shock resistance and decay resistance. Medium movement in use. Resists denting fairly well. Generally machines satisfactorily although curly grain can present difficulties when planing. Bores and turns quite well. Glues easily and bonds well. Good nail and screw holding qualities with high resistance to splitting. Accepts stains evenly. Sands and polishes quite well with minimal "fuzzing". Fair steam-bending properties. Often used for fine wood furniture and cabinets due to its uniform color. Also popular for innerplies in softwood plywood panels, pallets and paper products. Other uses include veneer, framing, lamps, drawer sides, interior construction, utility furniture, desks, chests, bent parts, and turnery. Big Leaf Maple When people think of maples, quite often they think of the trees in Eastern forests. What many don't realize is that the United States is home to some 20 different species of the maple. Among the species of maple is: black, broad leaved, fig leaf, hard, Oregon, rock, river, rough, scarlet, silver, soft and sugar. Classified as a soft maple, Big Leaf maple, also known as Oregon maple, is noteworthy because it is the most commercially important of the maples found in the Western United States. Each one of the tree's leaves is usually a foot long, with three to five lobes and often wider than long. "The West is in general poor in hardwoods yielding high-quality lumber, but big leaf maple is an exception, producing several million board feet a year for use in furniture, interior finish, flooring, and boat building. The best timber is not cut from trees in deep, coniferous woods, for these are apt to be spindling in competition with the mighty conifers, but from specimens grown in more open maple groves." - Donald Culross Peattie Western maples occasionally yield curly and bird's-eye figures. According to Peattie, "In the pioneering days in the Northwest, curly maple gun stocks were highly prized, both by the Hudson Bay Company men and the Indians." Second growth saplings were a favorite for single-trees in the days of wagon building. Early users of the Western maples, the Native Americans of Oregon and California, made canoe paddles from the big leaf maples. Sap was used to make sugar. Typically, big leaf maple is creamy white in color with a straight grain. The wood in general is softer than hard maples; rock maples, for example, average 45 pounds per cubic foot in weight. Big leaf maple is also lower in strength than the hard maples. However, it shares many of the same uses as hard maple, including: flooring, furniture, interior joinery, piano actions, dairy and laundry equipment, turnery and architectural uses such as paneling. The figured logs are cut into decorative veneers. Big leaf maple can also be used to make plywood. Specialized uses include shoe lasts, musical instruments and a variety of sporting goods such as canoe paddles. Big leaf maple is less lustrous than hard maples, however, the wood can be worked easily with both hand and power tools.

see Maple, Hard

see Maple, Bigleaf

760 kg m-3

see Sycamore Plane

Also known as Sugar maple, rock maple, sweet maple, and black maple. Grows throughout eastern North America. Straight, close grain with a fine, uniform texture. Nearly white sapwood, sometimes with a reddish tinge and light tannish heartwood. Heavy, hard, strong, and stiff with moderate shock resistance, low decay resistance, and medium movement in use. Steam-bends satisfactorily. Machines well, especially for turning, but is susceptible to burning and irregular grain can cause chip-out. Pre-drilling recommended for screwing or nailing. Glues well and finishes very smoothly. Used for furniture, cabinetry, interior joinery, bowling pins, bowling lanes and other floors, school desks, ladder rungs, countertops, cutting boards, textile rollers, sports goods, stringed instruments, paneling, and decorative veneer. Commonly marketed as Sugar maple. This tree is known also as sugar maple because it furnishes maple syrup and sugar. One of the most important and abundant of our hardwoods. Its range includes the region between Newfoundland, New England, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Texas and Florida. Maximum size is 5' x 135'; average 2-3' x 80-90'. Its wood is superior to that of any other maple, and is used for a wide variety of purposes -- furniture, interior finish, flooring, veneers, farm implements, vehicles, broom and tool handles, shoe lasts, and wooden-ware. Particularly prized for flooring and in industrial uses where a smooth, hard, strong, compact wood is required. GRAINS: Slightly figured, close grained. Uniform texture. Some birdseye & curly available. COLORS: Uniform light honey MISC INFORMATION: Traditional piano sounding boards. Also laminated Counter Tops and Flooring. Alternatives; BIRCH.Hard Maple The most prized commercial species of North American maple, its leaves are the most spectacular in the fall, and its sap is used to produce the delicious maple sugar and maple syrup. There are some 150 species of maple in the world, approximately 115 are located in North America. Maple is a light-colored wood -- a creamy white with just a reddish ting and fine brown lines on some areas. Maple dries slowly and without trouble. It has a non-durable heartwood and a sapwood that is susceptible to attack. The hardness of the wood coupled with a natural resistance to abrasion and wear makes it good for heavy-duty flooring. Its other uses include paneling, textile machinery rollers, musical instruments, piano actions, butcher block, sporting goods and dairy equipment. It is a high-quality turnery wood. Domestic MapleThis single species exhibits a variety of figures, including curly, fiddleback, quilted, blistered and tiger maple, along with bird's-eye maple and maple burl. A closely related species to hard maple is black maple, which also yields the various dramatic looking figures. It is hard to believe, but the same species used for bowling alleys can also be sliced into gorgeous veneers and made into priceless musical instruments. With its variety of uses, it is no wonder that maple never really has gone out of style. It is also understandable that hard maple is one of the most commercially valuable timbers from the Eastern United States. The various species of this North American tree are often designated as either hard or soft maples. The soft maples are roughly 25 percent softer than the hard maples, but often have the same uses. The exception to this is the soft maple boxelder. Other significant soft maples include red maple and silver maple. Common Name(s) : Maple, Hard Maple, Sugar Maple Botanical Name(s) : Acer saccharum DISTRIBUTION Hard Maple grows in the central eastern and north eastern States of USA, with the major concentration being in the Appalachian region. The species is similar to Black Maple (Acer nigrum) which is also commonly known as Hard Maple. The resource is adequate to maintain ready availability of both timber and veneers to domestic and international markets. QUALITY STANDARDS AND GENERAL PROPERTIES The timber is graded to appearance grades and only FAS grade (the highest grade) is being imported to New Zealand. The species is heavy, strong, stiff, and has high resistance to shock. It is odourless and tasteless. The timber easily machines and sands to an excellent finish. TYPICAL END USE APPLICATIONS High quality flooring (especially stadium flooring), high quality furniture, sporting goods, and wood turning.  TECHNICAL DATA655 kg/m3 Durablity Heartwood moderately Durable Sapwood Non durable Prone to shrinkage AVAILABILITY Hard Maple is available in mixed width packs in nominal 25mm, 40mm, and 50mm thicknesses. It is tallied in imperial measure for width, thickness, and length. The timber is readily available, and will continue to be so. 

see Maple, Bigleaf

Silkwood, Australian Silkwood

Pinkish timber with a characteristic smell which darkens with age to a light brown. It has a lustrous surface with a bold distinct figuring. The Birds eye and watered silk figurings are greatly sought for decorative work. The grain may be either straight or wavy or interlocked with a medium course even texture.

Non durable

Used in panelling, turning, furniture etc.

Also known as soft maple, scarlet maple, swamp maple, and water maple. Grows throughout eastern North America. Straight, close grain with a fine, even texture. Wide, creamy white sapwood and beige or tan-colored heartwood. Moderately heavy, hard, strong, and stiff with low shock resistance and decay resistance, and medium movement in use. Softer and weaker than hard maple but easier to work. Steam-bends satisfactorily. Turns, planes, cuts, and otherwise machines well. Gluing is variable. Finishes easily without the need for filling. Not suitable for exterior projects due to low decay resistance. Used for furniture, interior joinery, kitchen utensils, toys, novelties, turnery, musical instruments, sports goods, crates, pallets, flooring, furniture framing, and core stock. Commonly marketed as soft maple.

see Maple, Hard

Australia - New South wales and Queensland

The heartwood is pale brown with orange / pink tints.

Moderately durable

see Maple, Red

see Maple, Red

see Maple, Hard

see Maple, Red

see Maple, Hard

see Maple, Red

see Maple, Bigleaf

see Maple, Bigleaf

Red Mapito

Zew Zealand

OTHER COMMON NAMES:   Guampita  

DURABILITY:   Poor  

SOURCE:   Southern Brazil, Argentina with similar species throughout tropical South America.  

DESCRIPTION:   Heartwood is light brown in color, soft, easily worked, but not durable. Member of the rubbertree family. Typically used for crating or as a secondary wood in cabinet making.  

Australia

Heartwood is rose red to light mauve in colour with a straight grain and fine uniform texture.

Non durable

A general utility timber

Diospyros marmorata

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The timber is straight grained fine evenly textured hardwood with attractive figuring of dark or black bands on a grey brown or light grey background

Not an easy timber to season and is difficult to work.

User for carving and turning inlays and fine cabinet work

Tree of 15 the 25 meters of height, gift in the Amazon regions and Southeastern. Its wood used for is compensated, plated, linings, esquadrias, handle of broom, palito of match, packings and boxes, components of furniture, etc. 415 kg low durability 

 dark red / brown straight fine grained, very strong, durable, Any interior / exterior use combining strength with appearance

Sapwood is lighter in colour and merges gradually into the heartwood. which is whitish to yellowish brown. Grain is Interlocked. Texture IS fine but uneven due to the thick bands of parenchyma. Suitable for heavy construction, posts, beams, joists, bridges, parquet flooring, door and window frames and heavy-duty furniture.  

See BAGTIKAN:

A robust tree reaching 30 metres in height with a trunk up to 1.5 metres in diameter, the Matai is one of the slowest growing of our native timbers and one of the most stable. The Heartwood is a reddish brown colour, which on exposure to light darkens to a deep rich orange red. The sapwood is a contrasting white or creamy yellow. It is a straight-grained timber with a fine even texture and often with distinct growth rings. Common Name(s) : Matai  Black Pine

Botanical Name : Prumnopitys traxilohia, Podocarpus spicatus 

DISTRIBUTION Matai is a native of New Zealand.  The species grows throughout the country with the major volumes being on the West Coast of the South Island and the central North Island.  

QUALITY STANDARDS AND GENERAL PROPERTIES Matai is graded into appearance grades only. Grading also differentiates between heartwood and sapwood. The timber machines very well, and is easily sanded to a very smooth finish. It is one of the traditional timbers used in high quality exterior joinery and flooring. TYPICAL END USE APPLICATIONS Exterior joinery, flooring, panelling, furnriture. 

TECHNICAL DATA610 kg/m3 Durablity Heartwood Durable above ground Sapwood Non durable Prone to shrinkage and distortion AVAILABILITY The availability of the high quality Heartwood is diminishing rapidly, and only small volumes continue to be milled on a sustainable basis. Matai cannot be exported without a licence. 

Belize, Mexico & GuatemalaCaribbean Walnut, Mayan Walnut, Aztec Walnut are the same speciesMayan Walnut, Aztec Walnut is a variegated medium to dark brown wood, which can have reddish to purplish highlights.  It is a species whose beauty is best seen when viewing an expanse of the wood installed rather than just a few samples. Mayan Walnut, Aztec Walnut exhibits a large degree of color variability in the species, which tends to mute as it ages. Mayan Walnut, Aztec Walnut will exhibit a considerable degree of color change over time.  From fresh milled, when the specie exhibits a wide range of tones, Caribbean Walnut will quickly mute down to a more narrow range of medium brown tones, which then continue to darken over time.

see Cherry, European

see African Padauk

see Afzelia

see African Padauk

see Utile

800 kg m-3

see Ramin

Sapwood is not always well-defined but is usually lighter in colour than the heartwood, which varies between yellow-brown and red-brown. sometimes quite dark red. Grain is straight to interlocked and a true oak-like silver figure is prominent on the radial surface. Texture is rather coarse and uneven due to the irregular distribution of the vessels and to the wide rays. Suitable for heavy and medium construction, furniture, panelling and other decorative interior finishing, decorative veneer, and strip and parquet flooring  

Sapwood is usually lighter in colour and not always well-defined from the heartwood, which is red, red-brown to dark red-brown.  Grain is straight or only shallowly interlocked. Texture is slightly to moderately coarse but even. 

see Sitka Spruce

Sapwood is lighter in colour and is moderately distinct from the heartwood, which is red-brown with an orange hue. Grain is straight, interlocked or slightly wavy. Texture is coarse and uneven, due to the presence of the extremely large rays. 

Dark Red Malaysian Dark Red Meranti (DRM) is a well known timber in Europe particularly in countries like The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and the UK where it has gained a reputation as an excellent material for the production of high class joinery products especially door and window frames, facades and doors. Over the last 25 years these countries have been regular buyers of Malaysian DRM and it is not surprising that European architects, interior designers and specifiers who are very familiar with this reddish brown timber and its inherent ideal properties continue to recommend this timber. DRM also has the advantage that it is readily available to consumers as over the years a well established distribution system has developed to ensure that supplies can be obtained at any time. It is usually sold kiln-dried at the required moisture content, typically 12 - 14% for the European market Heartwood is reddish brown with a distinctly paler reddish sapwood which often displays a grey tinge. Texture is coarse and even with a grain which is usually interlocking. This produces a striped figure when radially sawn. Internal lining, Finishing material, joinery, veneer Used in plywood, paneling, furniture, and joinery. Reasonably easy to work provided tools are kept sharp as this wood contains a small amount of silica. Unsuitable for bending but nails and glues well. As a large range of possible imported species are involved, the lowest common denominator should be respected. As a result, the reddish is deemed susceptible to lyctid attack, in-ground performance is poor, the timber is not recommended for external use, and the timber is difficult to impregnate with preservative. 650 kg/cu.m

see Meranti,

Heartwood is pale to mid red-brown with yellow, pink or grey sapwood. Texture is coarse and even with an interlocking grain given to ribbon or stripe figure when the log is sawn radially. Internal lining, Finishing material, joinery, veneer Used in plywood, paneling, internal mouldings, and joinery. Light Red Meranti is relatively easy to work provided tools are sharp. The timber glues well. Light Red Meranti resists impregnation with preservative and is considered unsuitable for external use. Because of the large range of species involved, this timber is deemed susceptible to lyctid attack. 400 kg/cu.m

Sapwood is generally lighter in colour and is poorly defined from the heartwood, which is yellow when fresh but darkening to light brown or red-brown on exposure. Grain is interlocked. Texture is moderately fine and even. 

Sapwood is lighter in colour but not clearly defined from the heartwood, which is brown, sometimes with a yellow tinge. Grain is straight, spiral or wavy. Texture is moderately coarse but even. 

Sapwood is well-defined and pale yellow in colour. Heartwood is yellowish to orange-brown when fresh, weathering to brown or dark red-brown. Grain is interlocked. Texture is coarse but even. The growth ring figure and deep colour makes it an attractive wood for decorative work including interior finishing, panelling, strip and parquet flooring, superior joinery, cabinet-making, door and window frames, furniture, veneer, turnery and tool handles 850 kg m-3Merbau is medium brown colored wood with reddish/orange highlights with a course graining. Many pieces exhibit yellow "flecking" in the pores. Merbau comes in a fairly wide range of color variability, from light browns to medium browns to dark browns. Many pieces will have a yellow dust in the pores which show up as gold "flecking" when finished. Merbau undergoes a medium to large degree of color change, with the muting of the color variation from when fresh milled and with darkening over time to deeper orangey brown color

like the other well known Malaysian joinery timber, Dark Red Meranti is a popular timber for joinery applications in Europe particularly in Belgium and The Netherlands. The timber is mainly derived from a single species, Intsia palembanica. Its grain and growth ring figure together with its dark red-brown colour gives it a very attractive appearance which is suitable for high class joinery including door and window frames and facades. The timber is also used for interior paneling, strip and parquet flooring and other decorative uses. Like other sawntimber species available from Malaysia, Merbau is readily available to buyers worldwide through well established shipping facilities. To meet the requirements of buyers it is common to ship the timber after kiln-drying to a moisture content of 17-20%.

see Cherry, European

Sapwood is light brown with a grey or pink tinge and is not well-defined from the heartwood, which is light grey-brown with a pink tinge. Some trees develop a corewood which is streaked with orange and red lines. Grain is interlocked. Texture is moderately coarse and even. 

Sapwood is not differentiated from the heartwood, which is brown to purple-red-brown. Grain is interlocked and sometimes wavy. Texture is moderately fine and even.

Also known as honey mesquite, common mesquite, velvet mesquite, algarobo, and honey pod. Grows in western United States, Central America, and South America. Medium to coarse texture with a fine, wavy, interlocked grain. Tan sapwood and light to dark brown heartwood, often with a golden hue. Sometimes resembles genuine mahogany. Heavy, hard, strong, and stiff (but brittle) with high stability in service and outstanding decay resistance. Somewhat difficult to work due to hardness and cross-grain. Sands easily and finishes to a high polish. Very good turning properties. Glues, screws, and nails satisfactorily. Used for fence posts (due to high decay resistance), turnery, gunstocks, knife handles, novelties, fireplace mantels, flooring, and furniture to a limited extent. Mesquite grows in the desert southwest and Mexico at elevations of 2000 to 6000 feet. This slow growing tree is very hard and has an equally distinctive odor. Root wood is used for fuel, especially cooking, and is good for barbecuing and smoking meats. Native Americans use pods (seeds) for food and later as feed for livestock. We think that our incense is a unique blend of this complex fragrance.

see Mesquite

SCREWBEAN  MESQUITE:  Is extremely rare:  has a grain of startling color contrast.  It is denser than ironwood.  The sapwood is light to creamy and is every bit as hard as the heartwood.  Dimensions are relatively small.  Screwbean is so named because the fruit or "bean" is a star-shaped pod which differs from the curly bean of the Black Mesquite or the straight bean of the Honey Mesquite

see Mesquite

see Mesquite

see messmate, Gympie

see Oak, Australian Common Name(s) : Messmate Stringybark, Messmate, Stringybark Botanical Name : Eucalyptus obliqua DISTRIBUTION Widespread across the coast and lower ranges of Victoria and Tasmania, and in the tablelands and adjacent ranges of New South Wales and the Queensland south east border region of Australia. Obliqua is common in these areas. QUALITY STANDARDS AND GENERAL PROPERTIES A large hardwood tree with pale brown heartwood and yellowish sapwood which is usually easily distinguishable from the heartwood. Texture is moderately coarse but even. Grain sometimes interlocked. Growth rings visible but not prominent. Gum veins are common. Heartwood may contain 2% by weight of polyhenols (tannins)and is likely to stain alkaline surfaces brown.  "Pencil streak " stains are sometimes present. Timber is slow in drying and subject to checking with some collapse occurring. Obliqua is relatively easy to work, glues well and is satisfactory for steam bending. TYPICAL END USE APPLICATIONS One of the timbers in the Tasmanian Oak group, it is suitable for internal flooring, panelling, protected external use, internal joinery and furniture.  TECHNICAL DATA780 kg/m3 Durablity Sapwood is subject to lyctus borer attack. Stable after kiln drying   

Queensland messmate, dead finish, yellow messmate A large hardwood tree up to 50 m in height and 2 m diameter. Noted in the Gympie region for excellent stem form and vigour. Bark is brown or yellow-brown, flaky-fibrous, often distinctly tessellated on the trunk. Small branches usually smooth, grey-white in colour. Gympie messmate occurs in scattered areas from near Gympie in the south to near Cooktown in the north. The heartwood is yellowish-brown and the sapwood distinctly paler in colour. Unfigured, medium textured, generally uniform in grain. Can be slightly interlocked A large hardwood tree up to 50 m in height and 2 m diameter. Noted in the Gympie region for excellent stem form and vigour. Bark is brown or yellow-brown, flaky-fibrous, often distinctly tessellated on the trunk. Small branches usually smooth, grey-white in colour.Gympie messmate occurs in scattered areas from near Gympie in the south to near Cooktown in the north.The heartwood is yellowish-brown and the sapwood distinctly paler in colour.Unfigured, medium textured, generally uniform in grain. Can be slightly interlocked.

see messmate, Gympie

see Cedar, South American

Mexican Olive............This pretty wood has an outstanding grain with a random pattern that resembles spalting, and except for the color, looks a lot like the Screwbean Mesquite picture to the left of this column.  This very hard wood is often confused with Wild Olive,  and has been referred to as "Greek Olive" because the little black fruit is desperately small and evil tasting.  Mexican OliveSPALTED MESQUITE:  "Spalting" takes place when the powder post beetle lays its eggs in the bark.  The larvae hatch and feed  on the bark and sapwood.  The process of producing spalted mesquite is to kill the larvae before they eat holes into the wood leaving the spots where the eggs were laid.

 A small tree found on many tropical islands. It was formerly common on Pitcairn Island but was extensively logged. Throughout the 20th century the Pitcairners have sailed to Henderson Island to obtain miro wood. They use miro to make curios from which they derive much of their income.

On Henderson miro is restricted in distribution and is found on a few coastal areas. The harvesting of miro has been, and still is, a haphazard process. During their irregular trips each islander cuts as much wood as possible. The wood has then to be brought to the boats anchored beyond the reef. This is a difficult and often dangerous operation.

After a century of exploitation the amount of harvestable miro timber is dwindling. Following an investigation of the ecology and silviculture of Miro, guidelines for the sustainable harvesting of this economically important species are presently been devised.

Cherry) From Japan Attains a height of 60 feet and diameter of 18 inches. Wood is tough and compact, lustrous and is used for carving, turning and fishing implements. 

Cherry Birch From Japan Attains a height of 60 feet and diameter of 22 inches. Wood is used as a substitute for the wild plum and in wood carving, turning and cabinet making. 

(White Oak) From Japan An important deciduous oak, often forming a pure forest. Attains a height of 80 feet and diameter of 55 inches. Wood is strong, elastic and hard and is used in house and shipbuilding, wheels, joinery, beer and wine barrels and ties. Hilgard Hall is finished with this wood. Used extensively on our Pacific coast.  

see Afzelia

see Muninga

see Agba

The mockernut hickory is a tall, short-limbed tree with a narrow crown and upright branches. It is found quite generally in the eastern part of the United States as far west as Kansas and Texas.

The pinnately compound leaves have five to seven leaflets which are broader toward the tips and more wedge-shaped toward the base than the leaves of the other hickories. The leaflets are yellow-green and glossy above, pale to orange-brown beneath, with soft, velvety surface. They turn a beautiful yellow in the fall.

see Gaboon

(Birch) From Japan Attains a height of 30 feet and diameter of 20 inches. Wood is used as a substitute for the wild plum and in wood carving, turning and cabinet making. 

(Silver Fir) From Japan Height 150 feet, diameter 9.5 feet. Forms extensive forests pure and mixed. Wood is soft, used in house building, cabinet making, inferior furniture, tea chests and boxes. 

see Western Larch

This well known California tree originally occurred only on a small area along the Coast south of Monterey Bay, but has been widely distributed by planting. The tree even under best conditions grows to only about 70 feet in height but occasionally reaches over 4 feet in diameter. It is very branchy and produces knotty lumber. The wood, however, is of a high order -- dense, close-grained, moderately hard and strong, and very durable. This sample was cut from a tree removed in January 1928 to make way for Giannini Hall.

see Elm, Slippery

Other Common Names: Nato, Nato rojo (Colombia), Mora de Guyana (Venezuela), Marobukea, Mora (Guyana), Mora Moraboekea (Surinam), Pracuuba (Brazil). Distribution: M. excelsa: Widely distributed in the Guianas and less so in the Orinoco Delta of Venezuela; dominant on river levees and flood plains forming dense stands. M. gonggrijpii: Restricted to Guyana and Surinam, a dominant species best adapted to hillsides on heavy clay soils. The Tree Usually 100 to 120 ft high and 2 to 3 ft in diameter with clear boles 60 ft and more above very large buttresses that may extend 15 ft up the trunk. Trees of M. excelsa 160 to 200 ft high and 4 ft in diameter are reported.  The Wood General Characteristics: Heartwood yellowish red brown, reddish brown or dark red with paler streaks; sapwood 2 to 6 in. wide, distinct, yellowish to pale brown. Texture moderately fine to rather coarse, rather harsh to the feel; luster medium to high; grain is straight to commonly interlocked, very variable; astringent taste and slightly sour odor. Weight: Basic specific gravity (oven-dry weight/green volume) 0.76 to 0.84; air-dry density 59 to 65 pcf. Mechanical Properties: (First set of data based on the 2 –in. standard, the second on the 2-cm standard.) Janka side hardness 1,450 lb. for green material and 2,300 lb. at 12% moisture content. Forest Products Laboratory toughness average for green and dry material is 228 in-lb. (5/8-in. specimen). Drying and Shrinkage: Drying reports are variable, generally rated moderately difficult to season; a slow rate of drying and careful stacking are suggested to keep warp and other degrade to a minimum. Boxed heart pieces tend to split. Kiln schedule T2-C2 is suggested for 4/4 stock and T2-C1 for 8/4. Shrinkage from green to oven-dry: radial 6.9%; tangential 9.8%; volumetric 18.8%. Working Properties: The wood is moderately difficult to work but yields smooth surfaces in sawing, planing, turning, or boxing unless interlocked grain is present, then there may be considerable "pick up" and chipped grain. Durability: Results are variable; material from Surinam and Guyana is rated durable to very durable in resistance to brown-rot and white-rot fungi. Service life of 15 to 20 years in ground contact is reported. M. gonggrijpii is rated very resistant to dry-wood termites; M. excelsa considerably less so, not resistant to marine borers. Preservation: Sapwood responds readily to preservative treatments; heartwood resists impregnation, penetration is very shallow, and absorption’s are low.Uses: Industrial flooring, railroad crossties, shipbuilding, heavy construction, high quality charcoal wood. OTHER COMMON NAMES:   Mora amarilla, amarello, taiuva, fustic.  [NOTE: There is at least one other species, Chlorophora tinctoria that is also known as mora.]  SPECIFIC GRAVITY:   Variable: 0.71-0.78  DENSITY:    TANGENTIAL MOVEMENT:   5.40%  RADIAL MOVEMENT:   3.40%  VOLUMETRIC SHRINKAGE:   7.80%  DURABILITY:   Very decay resistant  SOURCE:   Found sporatically throught Latin America from southern Mexico to Argentina, but not plentiful anywhere.  DESCRIPTION:   Dense, fine textured, bright yellow in color, turning to light reddish orange with exposure. Produces a yellow dye used to stain cloth. Good resistance to wear, turns well, used for tool handles and furniture parts.  

see PurpleHeart

From Argentina

see Blackbean

see Blackbean

see Pau Marfim

see Teak, Burmese

see Oak, Australian

see Western Larch

Western White Pine

see Oak, Red

See Ayan

see Blackwood, African

see Blackwood, African

see Muhuhu

see Muhuhu

see African Padauk

see Blackwood, African

see Muhuhu

Also known as muhugu, mubuubu, watho, mvumvo, mshenzi. Grows in east Africa. Usually straight grained with a very fine, even texture. Dark yellowish brown heartwood (sometimes with darker streaks) and narrow grayish sapwood. Exudes a pleasant odor when machined. Very heavy, hard and dense, with a high resistance to abrasion, high crushing strength, and low shock resistance and stiffness. Exudes a pleasant odor when machined. Very heavy, hard and dense, with a high resistance to abrasion, high crushing strength, and low shock resistance and stiffness. Stable in use and quite durable. Difficult to machine - has tendency to burn and gum up cutting edges. Good turning properties. Pre-drilling required for screwing and nailing. Stains and polishes to a very nice finish. Ideal for heavy duty flooring due to its abrasion and wear resistance. Aromatic oil extracted from wood for use in perfumes Also used for carving, turnery, heavy construction, decking, door and window frames, and as a substitute for sandalwood for cremation purposes.

S ua tree is found in the Amazon region. Its wood is used for furniture, pisos, tilted, would cutelaria, etc.1060 kg very durable 

medium 560 kg m-3 – pale red / yellow flaky – Interior Joinery, carpentry and furniture

see Teak, Rhodesian

see Teak, Rhodesian

see Muninga

Europe and North America

tree may reach heights in excess of 20m

Yellow to red brown hardwood with irregular grain and a coarse uneven texture

non durable timber difficult to season

Used as a cabinet wood it machines well and is conducive to steam bending

Also known as ambila, Brown African padauk, bloodwood, kiaat, kajat, mninga, mukwa, mutete, and mututi. Grows througout south-central Africa. Straight to interlocked grain with a coarse, uneven texture. Fairly hard, moderately heavy, medium bending strength, high crushing strength, low stiffness and shock resistance, and high decay resistance and dimensional stability. Steam-bends moderately well. Works easily with hand or machine tools but reduced cutting angle recommended for interlocked grain. Good turning properties. Glues satisfactorily. Pre-drilling recommended for nails and screws. Can be brought to an excellent finish Used for fancy turnery, high-end furniture, cabinets, and paneling, carving, flooring, joinery, boat building, dowels, furniture components, and veneer. Often has attractive figure on quartered surfaces.

see Muninga

see Satinwood, Ceylon

see Agba

see African Padauk     see Muninga

see Sapele

see Iroko

see Muhuhu

Other common names: Laurel, California, aka Beech, Tasmanian Myrtle & Australian Cherry Myrtle 
Distribution:  
Tree Data:  
Timber Properties : heartwood is pink to pale reddish brown occasionally with pale yellow-grey streaks. Sapwood is white to light pink. Grain is mainly straight with a fine even and smooth texture. Not a highly durable timber i.e. moderate. Best used indoors in a decorative and architectural sense. In-ground durability of heartwood is low. 700kg/cu.m 
Working Characteristics: A resilient timber, workable to a lustrous finish, extra care is normally required when staining. 
Common Uses: Structural, Flooring, Internal lining, Finishing material, joinery, veneer Myrtle is prized for its use in flooring, furniture, wood turning, carving and panelling. It is also used for framing and bentwork. Myrtle is a timber which turns, dresses, cuts, bores, rebates, mortices and nails well. 
General :

see Pink Myrtle Burl

see Laurel, California

see Cocobolo

Other common names: Nargusta, white oliver, Amarillon Distribution:  Tree Data: Nargusta is a fast-growing, tall tree, reaching 100 to 120 feet in height in the natural forest, with older specimens sometimes reaching 140 feet, with a trunk of 3 to 4 feet in diameter. The tree may have a long clear symmetrical bole of 60 to 70 feet above a strong buttress. Timber Properties : Nargusta is variable in color from a yellowish cream to golden brown, sometimes with prominent reddish-brown or pink stripes. It has a medium texture and medium to high natural luster. Nargusta is durable, dense and strong, having a specific gravity of .65, higher than most North American hardwoods. Working Characteristics:  Common Uses: Because of its beauty, nargusta is used for furniture and cabinet work, boat building, turnery, flooring, interior trim, sash and doors. General : Nargusta has been extensively exploited because of its strength and beauty, and is now nearly nonexistent outside of parks and forest preserves. 

A tree attaining a diameter of 5 feet. Several species of Pterocarpus bear the name of Narra and all species may produce wood of any color--red, yellow and white. It is a moderately heavy and moderately hard, perishable wood. Used in bridge building and general construction, cabinets, doors, yokes, interior finish, furniture, etc. The wood yields a dye which turns water to an irridescent blue. Not abundant. 

see PurpleHeart

see Hackberry

Celtis australis

Australia

A yellowish hardwood having a straight grain and a medium coarse texture with an indistinct figuring or ray fleck.

A tough elastic timber works well and is moderately durable. Used for wheelwrights tool handles bentwood work.

see Cherry, Black

 New Zealand

also known as Pohutukawa

The best known of New Zealand's trees. Especially for its bright red flowers at Christmas.  20.m. – with a distinctive rounded canopy.  A coastal tree which can be single or multi-trunked – a hard durable wood.

The flowers are an important source of nectar during the November to February period for birds and insects.

 Leaves have adapted to wind salt spray etc. They are thickened with a layer of felt-like hairs on the undersides to help reduce moisture loss.

Rapid shade producer.

(Standish Arborvitae) From Japan Attains height of 75 feet and diameter of 26 inches. Wood is light and soft, and used for bent wood ware, kegs, tubs, etc. Used in U.S. as an ornamental tree.  

New Zealand

10m. Often a dome shaped tree with bright green fleshy leaves that have a “rough" looking surface that are oil glands. On holding the leaves up to light these are easily seen.  A hardy plant that is salt tolerant, withstands wind – ideal in exposed situations.

White purple spotted flowers occur between mid spring and mid summer.

Berries ripen summer autumn.

see Gaboon

see African Padauk

Other common names: Nyankom (Ghana), Ogoue (Cameroon), De-orh (Liberia), Yawe (Sierra Leone).
Distribution: West Africa from Sierra Leone to Ghana (T. utilis), Cameroon and Gabon (T. densiflora). Found in the lowlands as well as hilly areas. 
Tree Data: May reach a height of 100 to 130 ft; bole usually straight and clear to 65 ft, sometimes irregular; trunk diameter 2 to 3 ft, buttressed, frequently stilt rooted in swampy areas. 
Timber Properties : Heartwood pale pink- to red brown, darkening on exposure; sapwood up to 3 in. wide, whitish, not always clearly demarcated. Grain generally interlocked, sometimes wavy; texture somewhat coarse; luster medium to low; greasy feel; figured on radial surfaces due to high wood rays. Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) T. utilis<