LOURO, MOENA NEGRA (Ocotea costulata)
Trade Name
Louro, Moena negra
Scientific Name
Ocotea costulata (Nees) Mez
Family
LAURACEAE
Common Names
Laurel menta (Bolivia); Laurel negro (Venezuela); Laure (Venezuela); Moena negra (Peru); Alcanfor Moena (Peru); Jigua (Ecuador); Canelón (Ecuador); Canelo (Ecuador); Aguacatillo (Ecuador); Alcanfor (Ecuador); Laurel Comino (Colombia); Amarillo Laurel (Colombia); Aguarrás (Colombia); Louro (Bolivia); Canelo (Bolivia); Laurel Rosa (Bolivia); Laurel Negro (Bolivia); Laurel Blanco (Bolivia); Laurel (Bolivia)
Scientific Name Synonyms
Oreodaphne costulata Nees; Oreodaphne aciphylla Nees; Ocotea sericiflora C.K. Allen; Ocotea roraimae Mez; Ocotea maguireana C.K. Allen; Ocotea fulvifolia C.K. Allen; Ocotea aciphylla (Nees) Mez
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
It attains a height up to 35 m, with a trunk diameter that can reach up to 120 cm. The bole is fluted or irregular.
Natural Distribution
This species is reported to be common in the tropical rain forests of Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela Peru and Bolivia.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Vessels solitary and in short radial multiples. Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 150 to 200 micras (medium). Tyloses common. Vessels per mm2 10 to 20 (abundant). Vessel-ray pits coarse throughout the ray cell. Vessel-ray pits larger tha Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. 3 to 4 cells per parenchyma strand. 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Rays 1 to 4 seriate. Oil and/or mucilage cells at marginal cells of ray parenchyma. Body ray cells procumbent with one row of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-III). Septate fibers present. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
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Wood Macro Photo Radial Plane
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Wood Micro Photo Of Transversal Section
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Odor
O. costulata has a pleasant smell.
Color
The sapwood is not clearly differentiated, the heartwood is pale brown with light yellowish brown bands when dry.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
5
Grain
Interlocked grain is reported in this species.
Texture
Texture is reported to be medium to coarse.
Luster
The wood surfaces tend to be moderately to highly lustrous
Resistance To Impregnation
This species is reported to be moderately difficult to preserve.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.46
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.50
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
6.0
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
3.8
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Air drying is reported to be slow. Drying Defects: A tendency to end splitting in thick stock is reported.
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.6
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
688
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
106000
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
381
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
52
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
69
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
330
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
415
Workability
Sawing
It is easy to saw, risk of woolly surfaces when interlocked grain is found.
Machining
Risk of woolly surfaces when interlocked grain is found.
Response To Hand Tools
Response to hand tools is reported to be good.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, flooring, fittings, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, cores, TOOLS, tool handles
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Flooring
- 14 - Handbook of Hardwoods
Fittings
- 19 - Silica in Timbers
Panels, Veneers
- 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Cores
- 27 - Embassy of Brazil in Japan
Tools
- 42 - Utilización Industrial de Nuevas Especies Forestales en el Perú.
Tool Handles
- 43 - Maderas de Bolivia (Características y Usos de 55 Maderas Tropicales)
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