Marishballi (Licania)

Marishballi is an imported hardwood

Location

Marishballi is the common name applied to species of the genus Licania. Other names include kauta and anaura. Species of Licania are widely distributed in tropical America but most abundant in the Guianas and the lower Amazon region of Brazil.

Characteristics

The heartwood is generally a yellowish to dark brown, sometimes with a reddish tinge. The texture is fine and close, and the grain is usually straight. Marishballi is strong and very heavy; density of air-dried wood is 833 to 1,153 kg/m3 (52 to 72 lb/ft3). The wood is rated as easy to moderately difficult to air dry. Because of its high density and silica content, marishballi is difficult to work. The use of hardened cutters is suggested to obtain smooth surfaces. Durability varies with species, but marishballi is generally considered to have low to moderately low resistance to attack by decay fungi. However, it is known for its high resistance to attack by marine borers. Permeability also varies, but the heartwood is generally moderately responsive to treatment.

Primary Uses

Marishballi is ideal for underwater marine construction, heavy construction above ground, and railroad crossties (treated).

*Much of the base wood information presented here is made available by the USDA FPL FS. If you are interested in a much more technical description of wood properties, I encourage you to visit the source.