COMMON NAMES:   Ziricote

SPECIFIC GRAVITY:   .8 - .97

DENSITY:  50 - 60 lbs./cu.ft.

TANGENTIAL MOVEMENT:   7.4%

RADIAL MOVEMENT:   4%

VOLUMETRIC SHRINKAGE:   11.6%

DURABILITY1:   Very good

SOURCE:  Guatamala to southern Mexico, primarily Belize

DESCRIPTION:   Ziricote is the most dramatic member of the Cordia genus, which grows throughout Central and tropical South America. The heartwood is dull brown with irregular dark brown and black streaking, and the sapwood is creamy white to light golden tan. A pleasing ray or fleck figure is visible in quartersawn stock. Ziricote's grain is generally straight, and its texture is medium to coarse. Good for steam bending and easily worked with machine and hand tools, ziricote has only a slight blunting effect on cutting edges. It takes a smooth finish, polishes well, and holds screws and nails well. Long used by natives for decorative craft objects, ziricote is also used for boat decking, turnings, interior joinery, furniture, cabinets and other light construction.

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