Piquia Marfim
Heartwood bright orange red to reddish brown when freshly cut becoming light pinkish brown or pale yellowish brown upon exposure and drying. Sapwood narrow, white to yellowish, becoming darker on exposure and then not clearly differentiated from the heartwood. Grain straight to irregular; texture medium, uniform; without pronounced odor or taste when dry.
The Wood
Piquia Marfim is reported to machine well and rates fair to excellent in all operations; finishes smoothly and takes a high polish. Heartwood is rated very durable in its resistance to both white-rot and brown-rot fungi. However, field trials indicate only moderate durability. Heartwood is reported to absorb over 6 pcf of preservative oils using either a hot and cold bath treatment or a pressure-vacuum system; penetration was deep and uniform (test specimens were 20 in. long and not end coated).
Uses
Interior work, paneling, furniture, flooring, turnery, heavy construction, railway crossties, and boat framing. Vehicle’s flooring, ship building (planking and decking), sleepers, industrial or heavy flooring, heavy carpentry, bridges (parts in contacts with water or ground) and posts. Suitable for garden furniture and outdoor buildings.