Andira inermis Timber Properties
Anjlen
Angelin
The wood.
The wood is generally hard, heavy, coarse textured, with straight to slightly irregular grain. The
narrow sapwood is pale brown to grayish yellow and usually clearly demarcated from the
yellowish-brown to dark reddish-brown heartwood. The heartwood resembles somewhat the
color of the darker type of Honduras mahogany. Dark wavy belts of growth, crossed by very
definite, fine, and strong medullary rays are visible on the cross-sectional surfaces. The pores
are large and fairly evenly distributed, sometimes containing gummy deposits. A distinct feature
of the wood is the soft tissue that appears on the end grain as wavy bands linking the large
pores. On the flat surface of a plainsawed board, these lighter wavy bands alternate between
darker fiber bands giving a palmlike appearance similar to partridge wood. This feature gives the
wood its high figure and very decorative appearance. The wood generally has rather low luster
due to the abundant parenchyma; it is also somewhat fissile. Seasoned wood has no noticeable
odor or taste.

Weight
Air-dry wood is reported to weigh 59 pounds per cubic foot in Surinam and 45 to 60 pounds in
British Guiana. Wood from Puerto Rico weighs 47 pounds per cubic foot when air-dry and 74
pounds when green. Specific gravity based on green volume and ovendry weight averages 0.63
in Puerto Rico.

Seasoning
Angelin air-seasons at a moderate rate and under normal care develops only slight degrade
during the seasoning period. However, during the early stages of drying, the sapwood is very
susceptible to discoloration by sap-stain fungi.

Shrinkage
Angelin is a somewhat unstable wood when used where the relative humidity varies
considerably.

Mechanical properties
Angelin has good strength properties.

Working properties
Angelin saws and works fairly well except that it is difficult to plane to a smooth surface
because of the alternating bands of hard and soft tissue. Even using sharp cutting edges, a fine
ridgy appearance commonly results. This surface, called raised grain, is usually eliminated in
the final sanding. The wood works well in the lathe, takes nails and screws well, and glues
satisfactorily. But the surface lacks luster after planing and sanding because of the large
amount of soft tissue. This soft tissue also absorbs polish more readily than, the hard fiber
tissue and may cause some difficulty in French polishing. However, the wood is generally
reported to finish smooth.

Durability
Heartwood is rated a little less resistant to the dry-wood termite than West Indies mahogany,
However, the sapwood is often attacked by pinhole borers and is not resistant to termites. It is
considered highly durable in water and resistant to decay in contact with the soil and was found
to be moderately resistant to marine borers in Hawaiian waters.

Uses
Angelin is used locally for heavy construction, bridge timbers, house framing, and sheathing.
Because of its high figure and attractive coloration, it is best suited for turned items, furniture,
billiard cue butts, and cabinetwork. The wood has no resonance, making it particularly suitable
for radio and television cabinets and other similar uses. Small amounts have been imported
into England for many years where it is used for umbrella handles, walking sticks, police
truncheons, and other turned products. It is suitable for piling in nonteredo waters and has
been recommended for plywood and veneer because of its attractive and unusual appearance

Adapted from Franklin R. Longwood: Commercial Timbers of The
Caribbean (1962).
https://www.plantsofsaintlucia.com/downloads/timber.pdf