and modulus of elasticity as determined by compression parallel to the grain; 
above average in shear, cleavage, and compression and tension perpendicular to 
the grain, and, below average in stress at proportional limit in compression 
parallel to the grain. 
In the tabulation it is compared with yellow-poplar which is of similar 
density. The two species are much alike in all measured mechanical proper- 
ties, with possumwood being slightly superior to yellow-poplar in all but 
stiffness as determined by bending. 
Seasoning 
Possunwood can be air dried at a fast rate without undue warping and checking. 
Early rapid drying tends to forestall the development of mold and stain which 
form rapidly on green material in warm weather. 
As indicated in table 2, volumetrio shrinkage of possunwood is low, 7»3 per- 
cent, which compares favorably with mahogany, 7»7 percent, and white pine, S.2 
percent. The difference between shrinkage radially of 2. J percent and tangen- 
tially of h. 5 percent is moderate, indicating rather uniform shrinkage in these 
two directions. Longitudinal shrinkage of 0Jl8 percent does not exceed the 
limit of variation to be expected of wood characterized by interlocked grain. 
Table 2 
Species 
Source : 
Shrinkage 
Radial ■ 
Tangential 
Longitudinal 
Volumetric 
Panama : 
Percent 
Percent 
4.6 I 
Percent 
0.26 : 
Percent 
Possumwood 
2.5 i 
6.k 
(Hura crepitans) 
Venezuela 
2.S 
h.6 , 
•77 i 
7.5 
Surinam 
; 2.7 . 
k.h 
J+2 : 
s.o 
Average : 
2.7 i 
M 
M 
7.3 
Maho gany ( Sw ie tenia 
Central America 
3-5 > 
h.S s 
___ ; 
7-7 
macrophylla) 
'Yhite pine (Pinus 
.United States 
: 2.3 
6.0 
___ 
3.2 
strobus) 
J 
Durability 
Possumwood has been found to be fairly resistant to fungi and susceptible to 
damage by termites (Hj 27). Tests conducted at Yale (ll_), showed the wood to 
have resistance to decay by a white-rot and a brown-rot fungus ranging from 
nondurable to durable. Tests conducted by the Navy (l) on water absorption and 
weathering indicate that this wood compares favorably in both respects with 
Philippine and Central American mahogany. The tests at Yale (11_), however, 
showed possumwood as being somewhat inferior to Central American mahogany in 
resistance to water absorption. 
Rept. No. R1902 -5- 
V 
