Danto

(Vatairea lundellii)

Family: FABACEAE

Origins: From Southern Mexico, Central America to Brazil.

General Characteristics:

 Working Properties and Uses:

Easy to mill, but plane carefully due to interlocked grain; finishes well, but not recommended for turning. Good resistance to splitting and extraction of screws and nails. Sawdust can cause allergic reactions in some operators.
Exterior construction, sleepers, bridges, posts and beams; general carpentry; tool handles; floors

Heartwood:

Yellow brown

Sapwood:

Pale brown; to 20cm thick.

Grain:

Interlocked in bands of variable width; attractive figure.

Texture:

Medium to coarse.

Durability:

Moderately durable; resistant to insects and fungus, but not to marine borers.

Kilning:

Moderately difficult, but with few defects.

Shrinkage:

High to very high.

Strength:

A strong timber.

Weight:

550 to 650 kg./cu.m.

Alternative Species

Similar to Iroko from West Africa

References:

Prospect 21 (1988) Oxford University, AGEXPRONT 2000.