Commercial timbers

H. G. Richter and M. J. Dallwitz


Bombacopsis quinata (Jacq.) Dugand (Pochote)

Nomenclature etc. BOMBACACEAE. Trade and local names: pochote, saqui-saqui.

Description based on: 6 specimens. Tree. Geographic distribution: Mexico and Central America and tropical South America.

General. Heartwood basically red (pale pinkish brown when freshly cut, becoming light to dark reddish brown on esxposure). Sapwood colour distinct from heartwood colour (sapwood yellowish). Basic specific gravity 0.36–0.55 g/cm³.

Vessels. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels in multiples, commonly short (2–3 vessels) radial rows. Average tangential vessel diameter 256–266 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 3–5. Average vessel element length 371–492 µm. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 9–13 µm, vestured. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders, similar to intervessel pits. Tyloses in vessels present.

Tracheids and fibres. Fibres of medium wall thickness. Average fibre length 1703–1980 µm. Fibre pits mainly restricted to radial walls, simple to minutely bordered. Fibres exclusively septate.

Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma apotracheal. Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse, or diffuse-in-aggregates. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand 3–8.

Rays. Rays 5–8 per tangential mm, multiseriate, also if only few, 1–8 cells wide. Rays composed of two or more cell types. Heterocellular rays square and upright cells restricted to marginal rows. Number of marginal rows of upright or square cells 1.

Storied structures. Storied structure present, rays not storied, axial parenchyma storied, vessel elements storied.

Secretory structures. Intercellular canals absent.

Mineral inclusions. Crystals present, prismatic or druses, located in ray cells or axial parenchyma cells. Crystal-containing ray cells upright and/or square or procumbent. Crystal-containing axial parenchyma cells chambered. Number of crystals per cell or chamber one. Silica not observed.

Physical and chemical tests. Heartwood not fluorescent. Water extract fluorescent (light blue-green). Water extract basically colourless to brown or shade of brown, or yellow or shade of yellow. Ethanol extract fluorescent (light blue-green). Ethanol extract basically colourless to brown or shade of brown.


Cite this publication as: H. G. Richter and M. J. Dallwitz (2000 onwards). 'Commercial timbers: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval.' In English, French, German, and Spanish. Version: 4th May 2000. http://biodiversity.uno.edu/delta/.

Dallwitz (1980) and Dallwitz, Paine and Zurcher (1993 onwards, 1995 onwards, 1998) should also be cited (see General references).

Index