Region: south America, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to Mexico; Caribbean - Guadelopue to Cuba.
Habitat: wet forest; from sea level up to some 2,000 metres.
Use: wood for railway crossties, house frames.
BotanyShrub or a tree; 18 metres tall, usually much smaller.
Stem: straight, cylindrical; 35 - 45cm in diameter; heartwood is pale brown; the thick band of sapwood is yellowish; wood is rather fine-textured, moderately hard, heavy, tough, strong, fairly durable, fairly easy to work, though can be splintery, finishes smoothly.