Common Names:   Anacahuite Bocote Bois de rose Canalete Cordia, Light American Cupane Ecuador laurel Laurel Laurel de costa Laurel negro Peterebi Salmwood Siricote Purchase Bocote

Mechanical Values

Environmental Profile
This species is officially classified as either Extinct, Endangered, Rare, or Vulnerable within its natural habitat in Costa Rica. Inadequate information makes it difficult to assign it to one specific conservation category (Source - World Conservation Monitoring Center - 1992). 

The species is reported to be either very rare (21 to 100 occurrences) and local throughout its range, or it is found locally, even abundantly at some of its locations. The species may also be vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other existing but unknown factors (Source - The Nature Conservancy - Rank of relative endangerment based mainly on the number of occurrences of the species worldwide).

Distribution
The species is reported to be distributed from Mexico to Costa Rica, and is also found in Colombia, Florida, and the West Indies. (Zamora, 1989). It is reported to grow up to elevations of about 1600 feet (500 m) in the tropical dry areas of Mexico with average annual precipitation of about 40 inches (1000 mm).

Product Sources
It is not known at present whether timber from this species is obtainable from sustainably managed or other environmentally responsible sources.

Canalete is reported to be very scarce, and is priced in the high range when available.

Tree Data
The size of the trees is reported to vary from small to large, sometimes reaching 100 feet (30 m) in height. The trees are reported to be often sparsely distributed over a wide range.

Sapwood Color
The color of the sapwood is typically brown, or brownish-red, yellow, or green in hue. 

Heartwood Color
The heartwood color ranges from nearly white to golden brown, with irregular reddish to dark brown streaks.

Grain
The grain is typically straight, but may vary from straight to roey.

Texture
The texture is reported to be usually fine to medium, with a somewhat oily or waxy appearance.

Ease of Drying
The wood is reported to be rather difficult to season. 

Drying Defects
The timber is reported to be prone to surface checking and end splitting during drying.

Movement in Service
Seasoned wood is reported to be stable, and holds its shape rather well.

T/R Ratio
1.75
This indicator is more meaningful if it is used together with actual shrinkage data in the tangential and radial directions. (Refer to the Numerical Values window).

Natural Durability
Canalete is reported to have a high resistance to decay.

Resistance to Impregnation
The heartwood is reported to resist preservative treatment, but the sapwood is treatable. 

Cutting Resistance
Moderately easy to saw with only slight blunting effect on saw edges.

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect is reported to be only slight.

Planing
The material is reported to be easy to plane. It responds very well to both hand and machine tools and works to yield smooth, finished surfaces in almost all machining operations.

Turning
Turning is reported to be easy and turned surfaces are generally smooth and clean.

Moulding
Moulding properties are reported to be good.

Boring
The wood is reported to bore easily. 

Carving
Carving properties are rated as good.

Gluing
The wood is reported to have good gluing properties. 

Nailing
The material is reported to have good nailing properties.

Screwing
The timber is reported to have good screwing characteristics.

Sanding
The wood is reported to sand to produce smooth and clean surfaces.

Polishing
The timber is reported to polish to yield an excellent surface.

Staining
The wood is reported to take stains readily and evenly.

Painting
Painting characteristics are reported to be good.

Steam Bending
This species is reported to have good steam bending characteristics.

Response to Hand Tools
The timber is reported to respond readily to hand tools.

Strength Properties
The species has high bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). It compares favorably with Teak, which also has high bending strength. It is hard - harder than Teak, and does not marr or dent easily. It is a very heavy wood. The density of the wood is very high.