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Caribbean Heart Pine-Caribbean Heart Pine-
Pinus caribaea
Family:
Pinacaea, the pine family.
Origin:
Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Bahama Islands and Cuba. It has now been widely introduced as a plantation species worldwide.
Other common names:
Pino and Ocote.
The tree:
Caribbean heart pine grows to a height of 100 ft. with trunk diameters of 30 to 40 in. and occasionally larger. It has a clear, straight bole up to 70 ft. with only moderate taper. Its dark green needles are stout and lustrous growing 2 to 3 to a cluster and about 8 to 12 in. long.
Appearance:
The heartwood is generally golden-brown to reddish-brown and is distinct from the lighter yellow sapwood. The grain is typically straight with a coarse texture and it has a strong resinous odor. Growth rings are clearly defined but often lacking in juvenile wood.
Density:
Its density varies considerably attributable to its growing condition. Average reported specific gravity varies from 0.34 to 0.68(ovendry weight/green volume), equal to an air-dried weight of 25 to 53 pcf. Janka hardness is 1240 pounds of force.
Drying & shrinkage:
The timber air seasons rather slowly with a tendency for end splitting in thick stock. Low density plantation wood dries rapidly with only slight warping and no checking. Average reported shrinkage values (green to ovendry) are 6.3% radial, 7.8% tangential and 12.9% volumetric.
Working properties:
It is a very easy wood to work with hand and machine tools. High resin contents may cause rapid gumming of cutting edges surfaces. It nails, screws and glues excellently. Possible adverse reactions from the dust and wood include dermatitis, rhinitis and asthma.
Durability:
The heartwood is generally rated moderately durable. The durability and resistance to insect attack varies with resin content. The sapwood is prone to blue stain. The sapwood is easily treated with preservatives but the heartwood’s permeability once again depends on the resin content.
Uses:
It has many uses worldwide and is used extensively in light and heavy construction. Other uses include carpentry, flooring, joinery, utility poles, railroad ties, boat building, vats, utility plywood and pulp and paper products.
Availability:
Caribbean heart pine is obtainable throughout the world at an economical price although prices vary depending on location.
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