COMMON NAMES:   Holly, American holly

SPECIFIC GRAVITY:   .8

DENSITY:  50 lbs./cu.ft.

TANGENTIAL MOVEMENT:   9.9%

RADIAL MOVEMENT:   4.8%

VOLUMETRIC SHRINKAGE:   16.9%

DURABILITY1:   Poor

SOURCE:  United States of America

DESCRIPTION:   Creamy white heartwood with grey or blue tint. Very little contrast between heartwood and sapwood. Irregular grain with a fine texture and smooth, velvety feel. Difficult to dry and to saw. Used as substitutes for boxwood and ebony (dyed). It is excellent for turnery. Also used for engraving blocks, small musical instruments, piano and organ keys, brush backs, furniture decoration by cutting into inlay lines and stringings, marquetry inlay motifs.

1 Durability refers to a wood's resistance to rotting in wet environments.