Brazilian Walnut
Aguacatillo / Ocotea spp.
Local Names
Louro, Silverballi, Canelo, Irá Rosa, Quizarrá, Bambito Rosado
Source & Tree
The species often occurs in upper watershed areas and is an important host of birds, including the resplendent quetzal, Guatemala’s national bird. Trees reach a height of 40 meters with diameters of 1.5 meters. Trees are thicker at the base and clear up to 12 to 25 meters.
Wood Appearance
Wood is light reddish brown turning a yellowish brown toward the center with a well-defined palish sapwood. The texture is coarse and the grain interlocked to straight. Quartersawn lumber may be attractively figured.
Processing Properties
Aguacatillo works readily with hand and machine tools with little dulling effect. It glues easily and takes a good polish. It readily receives nails and screws.
Strength & Durability
Although of medium density, the heartwood is rated durable to very durable in resisting attack by rot, is moderately resistant to termites. It is similar to teak in resistance to marine borers. Weathering characteristics are excellent and the wood is highly resistant to moisture absorption (giving it low permeability). Its physical and mechanical characteristics make it a good substitute for American elm and black maple.
Wood Uses
The wood is used for furniture, general construction, doors and windows, boat planking, tanks and cooperage, joinery, heavy marine construction, exterior and interior paneling, house framing, turnery, tool handles, parquet flooring, veneer and plywood.
Non-Timber Uses
The species has a high alkaloids content with potential medicinal uses.
| Reference Species | ||||
| Technical Characteristics | Aguacatillo | American Elm | Big-Leaf Mahogany | |
| Density | kg/m3 | 660.0 | 560.0 | 560.0 |
| Janka Hardness | kg | 440.0 | 376.0 | 456.0 |
| Bending Stiffness (Modulus of Elasticity) | GPa | 9.6 | 9.2 | 10.1 |
| Bending Strength (Modulus of Rupture) | MPa | 84.8 | 81.4 | 80.8 |
| Crushing Strength | MPa | 46.8 | 38.1 | 46.6 |
| Shrinkage, Radial | % | 3.0% | 4.2% | 2.9% |
| Shrinkage, Tangential | % | 6.4% | 9.5% | 4.3% |
| Shrinkage, Volumetric | % | 9.5% | 14.6% | 7.5% |
| T/R Ratio | 2.1 | 2.3 | 1.5 | |
| Values determined at 12% humidity | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
DENSITY
JANKA HARDNESS
BENDING STIFFNESS
BENDING STRENGTH
CRUSHING STRENGTH
SHRINKAGE
Values are for reference only and cannot be guaranteed. Wood is a natural material and physical and mechanical properties may vary depending on age, genetics, and other factors. We encourage customers to consult the references provided in the bibliography. For further explanations of wood’s key technical characteristics, an excellent resource is the Wood Database with articles on Density (average dried weight); Janka hardness; Elastic Modulus; Rupture Modulus; Crushing Strength; Radial, Tangential and Volumetric Shrinkage.
| References | View Source |
| Canelo. "Maderas del Amazonas: Fichas técnicas para la identificación de especies maderables de Colombia." |  |
| "Catálogo de Arboles." Red de Viveros de Biodiversidad. | |
| Gutiérrez Pacheco, L. "Como elegir maderas según los usos en arquitectura y construcción." Universidad Privada Antenor Orrego. | |
| Hout Database | |
| Laurel Amarillo. ITTO Lesser Known Species. | |
| Laurel. "Maderas de Putumayo: Fichas técnicas para la identificación de especies maderables de Colombia." GFTN. WWF | |
| Little, Jr., Elbert; Wadsworth, Frank H. "Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands." 1964. | |
| Longwood, F. R. "Present and potential commercial timbers of the Caribbean." Agriculture Handbook No. 207. U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1962. | |
| Louro Branco. FSC Denmark. Lesser Known Species. | |
| Louro. Data Sheets. “The main technological characteristics of 245 tropical wood species.” Tropix 7. CIRAD. | |
| Notes on Forty-Two Secondary Hardwood Timbers of British Honduras. Forest Department Bulletin No. 1. April 1946. | |
| Ocotea austinii. Cordero, J. Boshier, D. "Arboles de Centroamerica: Un manual para extensionistas." Oxford/Catie. 2003 | |
| Ocotea austinii. Vozzo, J.A. (ed) "Manual de Semilas de Arboles Tropicales." 2010. | |
| Red Louro. Wood Technology Transfer Fact Sheets. Forest Products Laboratory. USDA Forest Service. | |
| Standley, PC. Williams, LO. Gibson, DN. "Flora of Guatemala." Volume 24. Field Museum of Natural History. 1974. | |
| The Wood Database. | |