Commercial timbers

H. G. Richter and M. J. Dallwitz


Brosimum utile (H.B.K.) Pittier (Sandé, palo de vaca)

Nomenclature etc. MORACEAE. Trade and local names: cow-tree, palo de vaca, mastate, sandé). Status of protection under CITES regulations: not protected.

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

General. Heartwood basically yellow white or grey. Sapwood colour similar to heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity 0.5–0.65 g/cm³.

Vessels. Vessels present. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels in multiples, commonly short (2–3 vessels) radial rows. Average tangential vessel diameter 160–220–270 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 3–9. Average vessel element length 250–480–780 µm. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 8–10 µm. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders, similar to intervessel pits. Helical thickenings absent. Tyloses in vessels absent.

Tracheids and fibres. Fibres very thin-walled to of medium wall thickness. Average fibre length 1140–1390–2130 µm. Fibre pits mainly restricted to radial walls, simple to minutely bordered. Fibres non-septate.

Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma paratracheal. Paratracheal axial parenchyma aliform to confluent, or unilateral paratracheal. Aliform parenchyma winged. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand 2–4.

Rays. Rays 5–8 per tangential mm, multiseriate, also if only few, 3–4 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, or 2–4. Sheath cells absent.

Storied structures. Storied structure absent.

Secretory structures. Intercellular canals absent. Laticifers or tanniniferous tubes present (latex tubes in rays).

Mineral inclusions. Crystals not observed. The presence of prismatic crystals in rays of B. utile has been described in literature but could not be confirmed in the studied material. Silica not observed.

Physical and chemical tests. Heartwood not fluorescent. Water extract not fluorescent. Water extract basically colourless to brown or shade of brown. Ethanol extract not fluorescent. 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