Because of the widespread distribution of andiroba (Carapa guianensis) in tropical America, the wood is known under a variety of names, including cedro macho, carapa, crabwood and tangare. These names are also applied to the related species Carapa nicaraguensis, whose … Continued
Red alder (Alnus rubra) grows along the Pacific coast between Alaska and California. It is the principal hardwood for commercial manufacture of wood products in Oregon and Washington and the most abundant commercial hardwood species in these two states. The … Continued
Albarco, or jequitiba as it is known in Brazil, is the common name applied to species in the genus Cariniana. The species are distributed from eastern Peru and northern Bolivia through central Brazil to Venezuela and Colombia. The heartwood is … Continued
Afrormosia or kokrodua (Pericopsis elata), a large West African tree, is sometimes used as a substitute for teak (Tectona grandis). The heartwood is fine textured, with straight to interlocked grain. The wood is brownish yellow with darker streaks and moderately … Continued
Species of the pecan hickory group include bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis), pecan (C. illinoensis), water hickory (C. aquatica), and nutmeg hickory (C. myristiciformis). Bitternut hickory grows throughout the eastern half of the United States; pecan hickory, from central Texas and … Continued
Important species of the white ash group are American white ash (Fraxinus americana), green ash (F. pennsylvanica), blue ash (F. quadrangulata), and Oregon ash (F. latifolia). The first three species grow in the eastern half of the United States. Oregon … Continued
The black ash group includes black ash (F. nigra) and pumpkin ash (F. profunda). Black ash grows in the Northeast and Midwest, and pumpkin ash in the South. The heartwood of black ash is a darker brown than that of … Continued
Many species of wood have unique physical, mechanical, or chemical properties. Efficient utilization dictates that species should be matched to end-use requirements through an understanding of their properties. This requires identification of the species in wood form, independent of bark, … Continued