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RAMóN, GUAIMARO (Brosimum alicastrum)

Trade Name

Ramón, Guaimaro

Scientific Name

Brosimum alicastrum Sw.

Family

Moraceae

Common Names

Apomo, ash, juandiego, nazareno, ojite, ojoche blanco, ojochillo, ox, ramón, capomo, ramón blanco, ramón colorado, ojoche (México), mare, charo, sande, guaimero, manta, mondongo, pasita, guaimaro (Colombia), congoña, machinga, congona, urpay manchinga (Perú), tillo, sande (Ecuador), inharé, mururé, muiratinga (Brasil), ajusté (Nicaragua), berba (Panamá), breadnut (Jamaica, Belice, Honduras), capomo (Honduras, Belice), hichoso (Costa Rica, Honduras), freguo, lechero, lechoso, mastate, vaco (Costa Rica), masica, masicarón, masiquilla, ojuste (Honduras), masicarán (Guatemala), masico (Guatemala, Honduras), mesica (Nicaragua), ojoche (Costa Rica, Nicaragua), ojote (Managua-Nicaragua), ojushte (El Salvador), ox (maya-Guatemala), pisba wainka (Moskitia-Honduras), ramón (Costa Rica, Petén-Guatemala, Honduras), ramón blanco (Costa Rica, Petén-Guatemala), ujushte (El Salvador), ujuxte, (Guatemala), charo amarillo, barimiso, charo, guaimaro, sande (Venezuela), árbol de leche (Bolivia), guaimaro, ramón (cuba), moussara (Trinidad), capomo, ojoche, ramón (USA); blodwood (Gran Bretaña).

Scientific Name Synonyms

Alicastrum brownei Kuntze, Brosimum bernadetteae Woodson, Brosimum columbianum S.F. Blake, Brosimum gentlei Lundell, Brosimum latifolium Standl., Brosimum terrabanum Pittier, Brosimum uleanum Mildbr., Ficus faginea Kunth & C.D. Bouché, Helicostylis bolivarensis Pittier, Helicostylis latifolia Pittier, Helicostylis ojoche K. Schum. ex Pittier, Piratinera alicastrum (Sw.) Baill., Urostigma fagineum (Kunth & C.D. Bouché) Miq.

Description Of The Tree

Botanical Description

It is a large tree normally 20-25 m in height and trunk to 50-90 cm DBH, but it can grow to a height of up to 35-40 m and 150 cm DBH. The trunk is straight with typically well-developed buttresses. Upswept branches form a rounded or pyramid shaped crown. Rough, blackish-gray colored bark, frequently with large, square scales. Internal bark exudes a sticky, rosy colored sap or latex when in contact with air, one of the distinctive characteristics of this tree. Simple, alternate leaves 5-17 cm in length with sharp apex and smooth margin with thick petiole and pointed stipules. The upper surface is a dark, lustrous green; and the under surface a pale, opaque green; both surfaces glabrous. Flowers produced in greenish inflorescences 1 cm in diameter. Fruit yellowish green and reddish orange when ripe, and produced either single or as racemes and covered by numerous miniscule white scales containing a brown-colored seed measuring 1 cm in diameter. The species has male and female trees, which is why some trees do not bear fruit.

Natural Habitat

The species belongs to the moist or rainy tropical perennial forests and premontane semi-deciduous forests as well as riparian areas in semi-arid zones. Can withstand hurricane-level winds or cold and moist winds from the north. In forests with seasonal climates, creates dense, almost pure stands. In Honduras' humid zone it is found associated with Cordia megalantha (Laurel negro), Symphonia globulifera (Varillo), Calocarpum sp. (Zapotillo) and Vochysia guatemalensis (San Juan de Pozo). This species plays an important role for fauna.

Flowering And Fruiting Months

The phenology of this species is quite varied due to its broad distribution. In humid zones it is an evergreen, but in dry areas it is semi-deciduous and partially looses its leaves during the first three months of the year. Flowering occurs at various times between November and May, or in some areas (eg., parts of Honduras) it may continue throughout the entire year. Fruiting varies from February through October in Central America. In certain areas there may be two production peaks (eg., in Honduras from February to April and from August to October).

Flowering

  • Jan.
  • Feb.
  • Mar.
  • Apr.
  • May.
  • Jun.
  • Jul.
  • Aug.
  • Sep.
  • Oct.
  • Nov.
  • Dec.

Fruiting

  • Jan.
  • Feb.
  • Mar.
  • Apr.
  • May.
  • Jun.
  • Jul.
  • Aug.
  • Sep.
  • Oct.
  • Nov.
  • Dec.
Regeneration Ease

Seeds germinate during the rainy season, several months after the fruit has fallen from the tree. It propagates typically by seeds.

Natural Distribution

Distributed from the south of Mexico (tropical and sub-tropical), all of Central America, the Caribbean (Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad), the north of South America (Colombia, Guyana, Surinam, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, the Northeast of Brazil (Roraima)).

Plantations Available?

It has been planted in Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica, and Guatemala.

Timber Local Uses

Its wood is important in a variety of local uses, such as in interior carpentry and construction, and simple furniture, particleboard, plywood, forms, lasts, saddles, tools, and sports equipment. The wood is also used for firewood and charcoal.

Non Timber Uses

It is a multipurpose tree. Highly palatable leaves are used for forage. The leaves are highly digestible (>60%) and contain up to 13% protein. In some areas (eg., Guatemala) the branches are cut as forage during the dry season (ramoneo), and in those places where the trees grow in pastures, in addition to providing shade, the animals eat the fruit that falls on the ground. The fruit is highly prized by pigs. In animal feed, the seeds (high in protein - 12-20% - carbohydrates, and vitamins A, B2, and niacin) they may be a partial substitute (up to 30%) for commercial grain, such as sorghum. It provides high-quality protein with good amounts of amino acids (lysine, arginine, tryptophan, valine.) The fruit, which has also been human food since Pre-Columbian times, has a pleasant sweet taste and jellies can be made with its pulp. It has been speculated that the seeds were a fundamental component of the Pre-Columbian Maya diet. The seeds are cooked or toasted, and are eaten whole, as if they were chestnuts. (See www.mayanutinstitute.org.) Flour from the seeds can be mixed with corn to make tortillas; flour from the toasted seeds is used as a coffee substitute. Boiled seeds can be used as a substitute for the potato. Diluted sap from the tree can be used as a substitute for milk due to its pleasant taste and water solubility. This sap has also been used in the adulteration of gum. Medicinal uses include infusions with the leaves for chest infections and asthma, and infusions with the bark as a tonic. The sap is used in Nicaragua to stimulate milk production in women with nursing children, and fruit extract is used in Mexico for the same purpose.

  • Photos Of Leaves Flowers Fruit
  • Bark Photo
View More Information
Natural Distribution Map (Red dot = Certified forest producer)
Certified Forest Producer
Forestal Otorongo S.A.C.
View More Info

Wood Identification

Anatomic Description Of Wood

No marked difference between the sapwood and heartwood. Very pale brown sapwood (HUE 10 YR 7/3) and heartwood also a very pale brown (HUE 10 YR 8/3); odor and taste not distinctive; high degree of luster; straight and cross grained; fine texture; surface slightly smooth to the touch; strong veining defined by vascular lines, satiny, mottling visible under 5x magnification, superimposed arching. Indistinct or absent growth rings. Diffuse porosity. Simple perforation plates. Small (4 - 7 µm) alternating polygonal intervascular pits. Areolate radiovascular pits similar to the intervascular pits both in shape and size throughout the radius of the cell. Average vessel diameter 50-200 µm with 5-20 vessels per mm2; vessels 350 - 800 µm in length. Presence of tylosis common. Fibers with miniscule simple pits or areolate pits. Presence of septate fibers. Fiber walls thin to thick. Average fiber length between 900-1600 µm. Linear confluent aliform axial paratracheal parenchyma. Unilateral axial paratracheal parenchyma. Radii 1 to 3 cells in width. Radii with procumbent cells (body of the radius), principally one marginal row of erect and/or square cells and procumbent cells (body of the radius) largely with 2-4 marginal rows of erect and/or square cells. Presence of sheath cells. Radii of 4-12 mm. Presence of latex or tanin ducts. Presence of prismatic crystals in erect and/or square cells. Heartwood is yellow.

  • Photo Of Fresh Cross Cut Log Section
  • Wood Macro Photo Transversal Plane
  • Wood Macro Photo Radial Plane
  • Wood Macro Photo Tangential Plane
  • Wood Micro Photo Radial Plane
  • Wood Micro Photo Tangential Plane
Specialized Bibliography For This Topic
  • 528 - InsideWood. 2004-onwards. Published on the Internet. http://insidewood.lib.ncsu.edu/search
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
  • 519 - Maderas comerciales en el Valle de Aburrá.

Availability

Cites Status

Unrestricted

Certified Forest Producers

bozovich

Specialized Bibliography For This Topic
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas

General Wood Description

Odor

Without characteristic odor or taste.

Color

Very pale, brown-colored wood with no appreciable difference between heartwood and sapwood.

COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)

6

Grain

Cross-grained.

Texture

Slight veining.

Luster

Somewhat lustrous surface.

Natural Durability

Heartwood classified as resistant to xylophagous fungi (Class 2 according to ASTM D 2017-71 and DIN EN 350-1). However, clear wood is susceptible to stain fungi, which requires rapid processing. Not resistant to termite or marine borer attack.

Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)

5

Internal Growth Stresses

Residual stresses present in lumber may cause defects during processing.

Silica Content

Chudnoff (12) reports a 0.68% silica level. Silica content exceeding 0.5% of dry weight believed to affect wood working properties.

Resistance To Impregnation

Moderately resistant to treatment with preservatives.

Specialized Bibliography For These Topics
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
  • 412 - Árboles de Centroamerica, Un Manual para extensionistas
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
  • 406 - Database of Tropical Industrial Lesser-Used Wood Species. ITTO Project PD 58-97 ("Nagoya Database")
  • 12 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part I-Tropical American Species

Wood Physical Properties

Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)

0.65 (554)

Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)

0.97 (556)

Normal Shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 12%MC) (%)

3.9 (556)

Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)

8.5 (556)

Normal shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 12%MC) (%)

2.0 (556)

Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)

5.1 (556)

Volumetric Normal shrinkage (Saturated to 12%MC) (%)

5.7 (400)

Volumetric Total shrinkage (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)

12.2 (554)

Drying Defects

Wood difficult to season; tends to undergo slight to considerable warping.

Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule

Kiln drying is performed in a relatively short period of time. Requires a moderate program, such as F (UK) or M (JUNAC), or T5-C3 (United States of America).

Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)

1.67 (556)

Actual Dry Kiln Program

http://itto.git.grav-dev.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/KD_British_ENG.pdf
http://itto.git.grav-dev.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/KD_USA_ENG.pdf
http://itto.git.grav-dev.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/KD_JUNAC_SPA.pdf

Specialized Bibliography For This Topic
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
  • 400 - Las Maderas en Colombia
  • 424 - Fichas técnicas sobre características tecnológicas y usos de maderas comercializadas en México

Wood Chemical Properties

Wood Mechanical Properties

Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)

1 640 (556)

Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

140 170 (556)

Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

760 (556)

Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

97 (554)

Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

170 (556)

Cleavage strength 12%MC (kgf/m)

56 (554)

Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)

664 (554)

Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)

816 (554)

Specialized Bibliography For This Topic
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
  • 400 - Las Maderas en Colombia

Workability

Sawing

High silica content makes it somewhat difficult to saw.

Rotary Veneer Cutting

Easy in veneering processes.

Sliced Veneer

Easy in veneering processes.

Machining

Good workability in machining. Due to its hardness, requires tools with hardened edges and proper cutting techniques in order to obtain high quality surfaces and edges.

Planing

Performs well in planing.

Moulding

Performs well in shaping.

Turning

556, 554

Boring

Performs well in drilling.

Mortising

Performs well in mortising.

Nailing

Requires predrilling when nailing or screwing.

Gluing

Easy to glue with common, white glue.

Sanding

Excellent sanding.

Finishing

Provides excellent, highly polished finish.

Staining

Easy to lacquer.

Response To Hand Tools

Somewhat difficult to work with hand-tools.

Substitute Species

Substitute for hard maple.

Specialized Bibliography For This Topic
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
  • 412 - Árboles de Centroamerica, Un Manual para extensionistas
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
  • 406 - Database of Tropical Industrial Lesser-Used Wood Species. ITTO Project PD 58-97 ("Nagoya Database")

REFERENCED USES

End Uses Summary

EXTERIOR, bridges, transmission poles, fence posts, crossarms, GENERAL HOUSING, beams, floors, parquet, frames, steps, panels, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, fine furniture, common furniture, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, decorative veneer, TURNING, turned furniture, shoe lasts, SPORTS EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, tool handles, PACKING, pallets, heavy containers, pallets, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, Handicrafts, Molding, other mold forms.

Exterior General
  • 406 - Database of Tropical Industrial Lesser-Used Wood Species. ITTO Project PD 58-97 ("Nagoya Database")
Bridges
  • 406 - Database of Tropical Industrial Lesser-Used Wood Species. ITTO Project PD 58-97 ("Nagoya Database")
Poles
  • 406 - Database of Tropical Industrial Lesser-Used Wood Species. ITTO Project PD 58-97 ("Nagoya Database")
Stake Posts
  • 406 - Database of Tropical Industrial Lesser-Used Wood Species. ITTO Project PD 58-97 ("Nagoya Database")
Crossheads Crossarms
  • 406 - Database of Tropical Industrial Lesser-Used Wood Species. ITTO Project PD 58-97 ("Nagoya Database")
General Housing
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
  • 406 - Database of Tropical Industrial Lesser-Used Wood Species. ITTO Project PD 58-97 ("Nagoya Database")
Beams
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
Flooring
Parquet
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
Frames
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
Steps
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
  • 406 - Database of Tropical Industrial Lesser-Used Wood Species. ITTO Project PD 58-97 ("Nagoya Database")
Paneling
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
Furniture Cabinets
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
  • 406 - Database of Tropical Industrial Lesser-Used Wood Species. ITTO Project PD 58-97 ("Nagoya Database")
Furniture, Luxury
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
Furniture, Common
  • 412 - Árboles de Centroamerica, Un Manual para extensionistas
Cabinet
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
Panels, Veneers
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
  • 412 - Árboles de Centroamerica, Un Manual para extensionistas
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
  • 406 - Database of Tropical Industrial Lesser-Used Wood Species. ITTO Project PD 58-97 ("Nagoya Database")
Decorative veneer
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
Turning
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
Turned Articles
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
Lasts
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
  • 412 - Árboles de Centroamerica, Un Manual para extensionistas
Sports
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
Tools
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
  • 412 - Árboles de Centroamerica, Un Manual para extensionistas
  • 406 - Database of Tropical Industrial Lesser-Used Wood Species. ITTO Project PD 58-97 ("Nagoya Database")
Tool Handles
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
  • 412 - Árboles de Centroamerica, Un Manual para extensionistas
  • 554 - Propiedades y usos de la madera de Masica (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz.)
  • 406 - Database of Tropical Industrial Lesser-Used Wood Species. ITTO Project PD 58-97 ("Nagoya Database")
Packing
  • 406 - Database of Tropical Industrial Lesser-Used Wood Species. ITTO Project PD 58-97 ("Nagoya Database")
Heavy Packing
  • 406 - Database of Tropical Industrial Lesser-Used Wood Species. ITTO Project PD 58-97 ("Nagoya Database")
Pallets
  • 406 - Database of Tropical Industrial Lesser-Used Wood Species. ITTO Project PD 58-97 ("Nagoya Database")
Other & Musical Instruments
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
Handcraft
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
Molding
  • 556 - Fichas de Propiedades Tecnológicas de las Maderas
Scale Models
  • 412 - Árboles de Centroamerica, Un Manual para extensionistas

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