Common Name:

General Information

Mora gonggrijpii is a large tree able to reach a height of 30 - 36 metres with some specimens recorded up to 45 metres tall[]. The cylindrical boles can be 50cm in diameter and unbranched for up to 20 - 24 metres, with buttresses around 3 metres high[].
The wood is commonly harvested from the wild for both local use and also export[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Northern S. America - Venezuela, Surinam, Guyana.

Habitat

Rainforests, where it is most common on hillsides on heavy clay soils[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	30.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers heavy clay soils in the wild[].
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is dark brown, reddish brown, or dark red, streaked with white or brown lines; it is clearly demarcated from the 5 - 15cm wide band of yellowish to pale brown sapwood. Two timber varieties are recognized: black and white - black mora has more heartwood and is heavier and more durable than the white mora.[]. The texture varies from medium to coarse, usually the latter; the grain is straight to commonly interlocked, very variable and often has attractive bird’s-eye, wavy, or sometimes ribbon grain figures; the lustre is high; there is a distinctly astringent taste and a slightly sour odour. The wood is very strong, very heavy, hard to very hard, tough and very durable, being resistant to fungi, dry wood borers and termites. The wood seasons slowly, with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is moderately to poorly stable in service. The wood has a high blunting effect, stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; it is hard to saw due to the hardness of the wood and the interlocked grain; it turns easily, seldom splintering, and requires little sanding; it finishes smoothly and is easily polished; nailing and screwing are good, but pre-boring is required; gluing is correct for interior use only and requires care because of the dense wood. Because of its fire resistance, the wood is rated by Lloyds as an A-1 material for stem posts, ribs, knees, and framing in ship building. Because of its instability and lack of cabinet wood beauty, the wood is not well fitted for furniture, interior flooring, turnery, and similar uses, though it is well qualified for ridge timber, house framing, bridge decking and planking, marine construction, and piling in teredo-free areas. The timber is also successfully used for mining timbers, mill beds, heavy-duty industrial flooring, and heavy construction of all types[, , ].
The wood can be used to make an excellent charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed -

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