Maquizapa ñagcha

Geographical Distribution: The distribution of the species was obtained from literature and herbal reports within the provinces of Amazonas, Cuzco, Huánuco, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Pasco, San Martín and Ucayali, between 0 and 1000 m. above sea level. Average amounts of this species can be found in the Peruvian Amazon.
The tree: Tall tree, up, to 35 m. tall, 50 cm to 1 m. diameter. Long, straight trunk has got round, high but narrow visible roots. Narrow top. Surface of the bark is gray, slightly greenish, somehow rough and flaky. Abundant round and small cracks spread along the trunk. Thin to medium dead bark comes apart irregularly at certain times of the year. Main bark is yellow (darkens quickly when exposed to the air), rich, thick to medium, and has got a sweetish smell. It depicts interbred fibrous inclusions that make up a sort of net. No exudation.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WOOD
Color: When freshly cut, sapwood (alburnum) is beige and hardwood (duramen) is light yellow. Slight and gradual contrast of colors between them. When dried in open air, alburnum turns white 8/2 HUE 10YR and duramen turns very pale brown HUE 8/4 10YR. (Munsell Soil Color Charts).

Fragrance Non-distinctive.
Shine or gloss Medium to high
Grain Straight.
Texture Thick to very thick.
Streaks or patterns: Overlapped arches defined by growth rings.
Radial cut shows longitudinal rings alternatively glossy and opaque due to nonlignified parenchymatose tissue that resembles cotton, which is alternated with other compact, lignified areas.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Maquizapa ñagcha is a very lightweight type of wood, showing low linear shrinkage and unstable volumetric shrinkage.
Mechanical resistance is in the limit of low rank.

Physical Properties
Primary density 0.29 g/CM3
Tangential contraction 6.28 %
Radial contraction 2.20 %
Volumetric contraction 7.96 %
T/R Ratio 2.77

Mechanical Properties
Module of elasticity in flexion 52,000 kg/cm2
Module of breakage in flexion 278.00 kg/cm2
Parallel compression (RM) 159.00 kg/cm2
Perpendicular compression (ELP) 12.00 kg/cm2
Grain-parallel cut 35.00 kg/cm2
Hardness on the sides 156.00 kg/cm2
Firmness (Resistance to impact) 1.40 kg-m

TECHNICAL ADVICE
Wood has proved to have low mechanical resistance, it is easily sawed and performs well when polished, molded and Quickly and easily dries up in open air. Performs well when artificially dried in heavy-duty setting. Low natural durability, prone to biological attack from other dry woods. Easy to preserve. Hot-cold baths and vacuum pressure chamber are recommended for preservation.

USES
Wood is used for coal, construction carpentry, cabinet making, construction of canoes. Shows high potential as pa per pulp. Is highly ranked as a type of wood used for purposes of indoor decoration, wood-paneling, ceilings and as noise insulator.