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CHICHA (Sterculia apetala)
Trade Name
Chicha
Scientific Name
Sterculia apetala (Jacq.) H. Karst.
Family
STERCULIACEAE
Common Names
Tacacazeiro (Brazil); Cutiúba (Brazil); Champanha (Brazil); Achichá (Brazil); Chicha (Brazil); Camajuru (Brazil); Sunsun; Panamá; Chiapas; Bellota; Anacaguita; Chichá (Brazil)
Scientific Name Synonyms
Sterculia elata Ducke; Sterculia apetala var. elata (Ducke) E.L. Taylor; Sterculia apetala var. apetala; Helicteres apetala Jacq.
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
It is reported to reach heights of 24 to 40 m, with trunk diameters of 50 to 70 cm or even 200 cm. The boles are straight and cylindrical, up to 15 to 25 m long. It presents well developed, steep buttresses.
Natural Habitat
Sterculia apetala is commonly found in the forests of tropical America, on occasionally inundable areas.
Natural Distribution
It is reported to be distributed from Mexico southward to Bolivia.
Plantations Available?
It is planted in the tropics for shadow and also for seeds.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Vessels solitary and in short tangential multiples. Vessels solitary and in short radial multiples. Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 200 micras or more (large). Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray p Axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Axial parenchyma lozenge-aliform. Axial parenchyma storied. Prismatic crystals in non-chambered axial parenchyma cells. 3 to 4 cells per paren Rays less than 4 per mm (rare). Larger rays width 0. 1 mm or more and 2 mm or more in height. Rays non-storied. Larger rays more than 4 seriate. Prismatic crystals in the ray cells. Heterogeneous rays and/or multiseriate heterogeneous rays. Body ray cells procum Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Odor
Odor or taste are absent.
Color
The sapwood is differentiated, it is pale yellow, the heartwood is reddish yellow when dry.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
5
Grain
The grain is mostly straight
Texture
The wood is reported to have a coarse texture.
Luster
The wood is described as moderate in luster.
Natural Durability
It has a low natural durability, quickly processing is recommended.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
5
Resistance To Impregnation
Timber of this group is reported to offer no difficulties to preservative treatments.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.38
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.40
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
5.2
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
4.0
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: It dries at a rapid rate. Drying Defects: Severe checking and moderate warping are reported. Kiln Schedules: Reduced drying rates are recommended to minimize degrade.
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.3
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
470
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
64500
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
289
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
26
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
49
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
220
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
265
Workability
Sawing
This species is easy to saw.
Rotary Veneer Cutting
It could be useful for rotary peeling.
Sliced Veneer
It could be useful for rotary peeling.
Machining
This species is easy to machine.
Planing
Planing of this species is reported to be easy.
Boring
Boring is reported to be easy.
Finishing
Wood of this species is easy to finish.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, shutter boards, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, PACKING, light packing, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, handicrafts, shoes, coffin, particleboard
General Housing
- 10 - 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.
Panels, Veneers
- 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Packing
- 45 - Recopilación y Análisis de Estudios Tecnológicos de Maderas Peruanas
Light Packing
- 46 - ECUADOR, Inventario y Aprovechamiento de los Bosques del Sur Ecuatoriano
Handcraft
- 66 - Maderas latinoamericanas. VII. Caracteristicas anatomicas. propiedades fisicomecanicas, de secado, y tratabilidad de la madera juvenil de Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav. Oken.)
Shoes
- 70 - Proprietes physiques et mecaniques des bois tropicaux de l`union francaise
Coffin
- 78 - Amazonian Timbers for the International Market
Particleboard
- 80 - Estudio Integral de la Madera para Construcción
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