Detailed Specs: Determa

Scientific Name:   Sextonia rubra; Ocotea Rubra
Family:   Lauraceae
Other Names:  Wana, Wane (Suriname), Grignon rouge (French Guiana), Louro vermelho (Brazil)

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The Tree

Reaches heights of 130 feet with diameters of 5 feet; usually 92-100 feet high with diameters of 2-3 feet; boles are generally basally swollen and clear 40-80 feet.

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The Wood

General Characteristics: Heartwood is light reddish brown with a golden sheen. The sapwood is well defined, narrow, and dull grey or pale yellowish brown. It has a resemblance to African mahogany in terms of its coarse grain. The grain is interlocked to straight, quarter sawn lumber is sometimes attractively figured; dry wood is without a distinctive odor or taste.

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Weight: Basic specific gravity (oven dry weight/green volume) 0.52 to 0.59; air- dry Density 40-45 pcf.

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Drying and Shrinkage: The wood is moderately difficult to air season: drying at a moderate rate with slight checking and moderate warp. Kiln schedule T6-D2 is suggested for 4/4 stock and T3-D1 for 8/4; for 8/4; there is a tendency to warp and check in the kiln. Shrinkage green to oven dry: radial 3.7%; tangential 7.6%; volumetric 10.4%.

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Janka side hardness 520 lb for green material and 660 lb at 12% moisture content. Forest Products Laboratory toughness average

for green and dry material is 75 inches – pound (5/8 – inch specimen). Amsler toughness 137 in-lb at 15% moisture content (2-cm specimen).

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Working Properties: Works readily with hand and machine tools with minimum dulling effect; reported to glue readily and polishes fairly well.

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Durability: According to graveyard and pure culture tests determa’s heartwood is rated durable. It is resistant to attack by white- rot and dry-wood termites. It is also very resistant to moisture and has excellent weathering characteristics. The wood equals Honduras Mahogany in its resistance to termites and marine borers.

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Distribution: The Guianas, Trinidad and the lower Amazon region. Occasional to frequent on Sandy or loamy soils in Guyana.

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Preservation: The heartwood is not treatable.

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Uses: This is generally a utility timber used for both interior and exterior qualities. Used for furniture, boat planking, tanks an d cooperage, joinery, heavy marine construction, turnery, parquet flooring, veneer and plywood.

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References

–      Chundnoff, Martin (1984), “Tropical Timbers of the World.” USDA Forest Service Ag. Handbook No.607.