66 The Timbers of British Guiana. 



65. DIMORPHANDRA MORA. BTH., ET HOOK. 



Nat. Ord. y LEGUMINOS.E. 



Synonyms, D. EXCELSA. BAILL. ; D. GUIANENSIS. BAILL. ; MORA 

 EXCELSA. BAILL., ET BTH. 



Alternative Names. " Mora " (2) ; " Moreira in the Amazonas 

 Region" (21); " Moral" (4a) ; " Peto, in Dutch Guiana" (3). 

 " Muro, in Trinidad " (10). (Not Mora-balli nor Mora-bucquia. 

 Mora, meaning Mulberry, is applied to many different trees). 



Salient Features. A hard, heavy wood of coarse grain and 

 dark brown or reddish-brown colour, streaked with white or brown 

 lines. 



Physical Characters. Weight (so far recorded), 57-68 J Ibs. per 

 cubic ft. Hardness, Grade 2-3, compare Blackthorn to Ebony. 

 Smell 0. Taste bitterly astringent, but this is not apparent until 

 the shavings have remained in the mouth for some time. Solution 

 the colour of brown brandy. Heartwood sharply denned from the 

 Sapwood ; surface lustrous, darkens but little on exposure to the 

 air. Sapwood yellowish or light brown, width about 2 ins. 



Bark. About J in. thick, brown, hard, scaling in roundish 

 flakes. Surface of log beneath Bark quite smooth. 



Uses, Qualities, etc. "Very durable, more so than Teak ship 

 building tough, strong, polishes well, star-shake frequent 

 recommended for the larger parts of ships and buildings, also piles; 

 rated first-class at Lloyd's " (17 a). See Laslett for mechanical 

 tests. Schomburgk (26), gives it unstinted praise. " Does not 

 splinter, resists dry rot. There are three varieties, the Red, the 

 White, and Mora-bucquia (?). The latter is not durable" (21). 

 " Mora may be met with in logs of 18-35 ft. in length by 12-20 ins. 

 square. It is the largest tree of British Guiana, and grows to a 

 height of as much as 150 ft. When large it is generally hollow (20). 

 Mora does not resist the Teredo, vide a specimen in the Museum, 

 No. 1, Kew, which is honeycombed by them. It turns badly ; planes 

 well and smoothly when of good quality; is hard to saw. Fissile, 

 takes nails badly; rends evenly; polishes well. "Sleepers are said 

 to last 50 years" (27). " One of the best woods in the Colony 

 for railway sleepers, paving and ship-building is readily procur- 

 able all over the Colony" (2). It is a handsome wood, but its 

 appearance is sometimes marred by white secretion. It is worthy 

 of more attention in Europe. Sometimes confused with Mora-balli, 

 No. 66, Morakokuru, No. 68, and Mora-bucquia, No. 67, on 

 account of the similarity of the names. 



Authorities. 1. Barham. 2. Bell, p. 8. 3. Berkhout. 4. 

 Boulger, p. 430. 5. Cat., Col. Fr., p. 29. 19. Devenish. 12. 

 Hawtayne, p. 94. 13. Royle, p. 94. 16a. Kew Guide, p. 38. \la. 

 Laslett, p. 275. 20. McTurk, p. 6. 21. Miers. 26. Schomburgk. 

 V7a. Stone, p. 94, PL VI., fig. 52. 276. Timber Trades Journ., 

 February 1st, 1902. 



