Haya

Description

Oxandra laurifolia is an evergreen tree growing 9 - 16 metres or more tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 20cm in diameter, The tree is harvested from the wild for its high quality wood, which is exported. Forests at elevations from 150 - 600 metres in Puerto Rico. Forests on limestone in wet areas at elevations around 600 metres in Jamaica, The light yellow wood is made up entirely of sapwood. The texture is very fine; the grain straight; lustre is medium; there is no distinctive odour or taste. The wood is very strong, extremely hard, elastic; durable. It is moderately difficult to work because of its high density, but finishes smoothly and is excellent for turnery. Said to be the equal of boxwood in hardness, it is used for making fishing rods, billiard cues, archery bows, articles of turnery, masts, textile machinery, and small tool handles.