Virola spp.
Specifications
Family
Myristicaceae
Species
Virola spp.
Description
The sapwood is slightly pink when fresh, turning yellowish ochre when exposed to air; the poorly differentiated heartwood is pinkish-brown or pinkish-ochre. The texture is fine to medium, the grain mostly straight, and the density varies from 0.43 to 0.74. Cracks and deformations occur with drying. Its durability is very low, as the ferrule is rapidly attacked by insects and fungi.
Plant morphology
They are trees 15 to 35 m tall with a trunk diameter of 30 to 90 cm. The leaves are simple, 10 to 30 cm long. The flowers are inconspicuous, yellowish, and clustered in axillary inflorescences. The fruit is a dehiscent capsule containing a single seed.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Central and South America: from the Antilles to Venezuela and Colombia, up to Eastern and Southeastern Brazil.
Habitat and ecology
Heliophilous, semi-deciduous or evergreen species, they grow in both primary and secondary forests.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It is a wood with a wide range of general uses: when sawn, it is used for furniture, interior design, picture frames, and various types of packaging; when sliced, it is used for plywood and matches, while as a shredded material, it is suitable for particleboard, fiberboard, or the paper industry. Finally, it is also used to produce wood wool for cement mortar-based panels and for packaging fragile products.
Threats and Conservation
Threats
Wood is in demand in international trade.
Conservation measures
Not reported.
IUCN Red List
IUCN
Virola koschnyi LC - Least Concern (2020); V. michelii Heckel; V. officinalis LC - Least Concern (2018); V. sebifera LC - Least Concern (2018); V. surinamensis LC - Least Concern (2023); V. venosa LC - Least Concern (2018).
CITES. Year of assessment
CITES
CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento
Not present.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Slightly obvious
Texture
Medium
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
520
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
56
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
95
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
65
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
12430
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Not durable
Insect resistance
Not resistant
Miscellaneous
The species of commercial interest are: Virola koschnyi Warb., V. michelii Heckel, V. officinalis Warb., V. parmensi Warb., V. sebifera Aubl., V. surinamensis (Rol. Ex Rottb.) Warb. and V. venosa (Benth.) Warb. as well as Bicuiba oleifera (Schott) J.J. De Wilde.