Verawood

Verawood (Bulnesia sarmientoi)

Common Name(s): Verawood, Argentine Lignum Vitae

Scientific Name: Bulnesia arborea, Bulnesia sarmientoi

Distribution: Central America and northern South America

Tree Size: 40-50 ft (12-15 m) tall, 1-2 ft (.3-.6 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 81 lbs/ft³ (1,300 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: 1.01

Hardness: 4,120 lb_f (18,340 N)*

*Estimated hardness based on specific gravity

Bending Strength: No data available*

Elasticity: No data available*

Shrinkage: No data available*

*Values are most likely similar to those of Lignum Vitae

Color/Appearance: Heartwood color can range from a pale yellowish olive, to a deeper forest green or dark brown to almost black. Grain has a unique feathered pattern when viewed up close. The color tends to darken with age, especially upon exposure to light (see light-change color photo below).

Grain/Pore: Verawood has a fine texture and closed pores. Bare wood can be polished to a fine luster due to its high natural oil content. The grain tends to be interlocked and tight.

Durability: Verawood is reported to be very durable for outdoor use and is said to last nearly indefinitely in direct ground contact; Verawood is also resistant to insect attack.

Workability: Verawood has a tendency to skip over-top jointer cutters on account of its extremely high density, and very light passes are recommended. Verawood will also dull cutters, and overall is considered quite difficult to work. Also, due to its high oil content and hardness, it is very difficult to get a strong and reliable glue joint. However, Verawood is an exceptional wood for turning on the lathe, and finishes well.

Smell: Verawood has a distinct, perfume-like fragrance that lingers even after it has been machined.

Safety: There have been no adverse health effects associated with Verawood, though the closely related Lignum Vitae has been reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price Range: Should be priced in the mid to upper range of imported exotic woods. Turning blanks and other small pieces are most commonly available, comparing similarly with other tropical hardwoods such as Cocobolo or Bocote. Larger pieces of lumber are less common but are also available.

Comments: Verawood has very similar appearances and working characteristics to Lignum Vitae, and is sometimes referred to as Argentine Lignum Vitae. Though Verawood is in a different Genus than Lignum Vitae, (Bulnesia and Guaiacum, respectively) both genera are biologically classified in the same Family: Zygophyllaceae. Both woods are extremely hard, heavy, oily, and have a feathered grain pattern with a distinct brownish olive color.

Since trade of genuine Lignum Vitae is restricted, (and is included in the CITES Appendix II), Verawood is a popular substitute: yet even this species (Bulnesia sarmientoi) has been included in CITES Appendix III, though it is not as restrictive as Appendix II.

Some common uses for Verawood include: tool handles, mallet heads, bearings, bushings, boatbuilding, pulley wheels, heavy construction (in areas where the tree grows locally), and turned objects.

Related Species:

None available.

Scans/Pictures: You can see from the picture in the lower right that the wood is capable of turning a deep forest green. Since there was a sticker above the area with the much lighter yellowish-olive color, it would stand to reason that this dark green color change came about through exposure to light.