16 BULLETIN 1050, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



"WHITE MAHOGANY." 



(Tabebuia donnell-smithii Rose.) 

 Trumpet-Creeper or Catalpa Famiey ( Bignoniace.*; ) . 



OTHER names. 



Prima vera. The names " jenicero " or " genesero " have also been 

 applied to this wood, but these names are also used for an entirely 

 different Mexican species, namely, guanacaste {Enter olohmm 

 cyclocarpum) . 



WHERE GROWN. 



Western coast of Mexico and southward to Guatemala. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. 



The wood is moderately heavy and hard, works well, and is said 

 to give little trouble by warping. It is creamy white to yellowish- 

 brown in color. The grain is interlocked, and the pores are of about 

 the same size as in true mahogany, so that the figure produced, espe- 

 cially when finished with a mahogany stain, is similar to that of true 

 mahogany. 



STRUCTURE. 



The pores are plainly visible on longitudinal surfaces as grooves, 

 and can be seen on smoothly cut end surfaces as minute openings. 

 They are arranged so as to form diagonal or wavy tangential rows, 

 especially in the outer portion of each growth ring as seen on the 

 cross-section. (See fig. 11.) Tyloses are very common in the pores. 

 Fine tangential lines, often accompanied by a darker layer of sum- 

 merwood, mark the limits of the growth rings. In some pieces the 

 pores are also slightly larger at the beginning of each growth ring, 

 making the rings more conspicuous. 



The rays are barely visible .on cross-section and inconspicuous on 

 radial surfaces. On tangential faces they may or may not appear 

 storied. When storied they never produce conspicuous " ripple " 

 marks, as in true mahogany, 



GLOSSARY. 



Density. — Amount of wood substance, equivalent to oven-dry 

 weight. 



Ducts, or gum ducts. — Special ducts for storing or conveying gum. 

 Found only in a few species of hardwoods ; usually smaller and less 

 numerous than the pores for conducting sap. 



Family. — Botanically speaking, a group of plants having certain 

 fundamental resemblances, especially in the flowers and fruit, yet 

 differing more or less in this and other respects. For example, 



