Red Cedar (Cedrela)

Origin: Latin America.

Latin name.
Cedrela odorata.

Natural vegetation area.
Tropical and subtropical forests throughout Latin America, excluding Chile.

TRUNK CHARACTERISTICS.
The tree has a good size reaching 28-32 metres height, with diameter at breast height of 1 m and over. The trunk features some quite large root buttresses at the base, above which it then continues with a regular grow habit.

WOOD APPEARANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS.
The thin rosy or greyish sapwood can be clearly distinguished from the yellow/reddish or dark red heartwood with frequent rubber/resin bleed. Its taste is slightly acrid, and in the fresh condition it emanates a pleasant scent of cedar, which is the reason for its various names reported above.

Specific weight.
In the fresh condition 800 kg/m³ on average; after normal seasoning 520 kg/m³.

Histological structure.
Texture from media to coarse; the grain is often a cross-grain.

Mechanical characteristics.
Axial compression strength 40 N/mm² on average; bending strength 83 N/mm²; very low hardness; the impact behaviour is moderate.

Modulus of elasticity.
9.200 N/mm².

Most frequent structural defects and alteration.
Internal stresses, grain deviation.

Durability.
Fair.

Texts taken from: “Manuale tecnico del legno”, FNALA CNA LEGNO LEGNO, by Prof. Ing. Guglielmo Giordano.

Species available for the following products: