SCIENTIFIC NAME
Cordia dodecandra. Derivation: The genus name is in honor of Euricius Cordus (1486 to 1535) and his son, German physicians and botanists. The specific epithet is Latin for the 12 stamens.

FAMILY
Boraginaceae, the borage family.

OTHER NAMES sericote.

DISTRIBUTION
This tree is native to southern Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula, westward into the state of Chiapas), Belize and Guatemala.

THE TREE
Ziricote grows throughout tropical deciduous forests, usually at low elevations but occasionally to elevations of 1,500 feet in the mountains. It is not a rainforest inhabitant but does need at least 40 inches of rainfall annually. In an undisturbed mature forest, it may be one of the dominant trees with a straight trunk 60 to 90 feet in height and occasionally diameters of 30 inches. Over much of its range, however, the tree is considerably smaller in size. The simple, oval-shaped leaves have a very rough surface. The showy, orange-red tubular flowers grow in clusters, and each flower measures 2 inches across its petals. The fruit is egg-shaped, nearly 2 inches long, yellowish and edible. The tree flowers and fruits throughout the year.

THE TIMBER
Ziricote wood can be immediately recognized by its heartwood which is various shades of black with irregular wavy black streaks, lines and variegations on a tan background. The black markings may curve, run diagonally, or may be at nearly right angles to the main axis of the tree. This author does not know of any other timber (except a few other species of Cordia) which produces such attractive and distinctive markings. The white sapwood is often left on the boards to provide a handsome contrast to the black heartwood. The wood is hard, heavy and strong. It has a more or less oily or waxy appearance, a medium luster, straight grain, and attractive ray flecks on the tangential surface. The texture is fine to medium and not always uniform. When freshly cut, the wood has a slight odor. The specific gravity is 0.63 to 0.84 (ovendry weight/green volume), equivalent to an air-dried weight of 49 to 68 pd.

SEASONING
Ziricote is difficult to dry as it readily develops surface checks and end splits. Average reported shrinkage values (green to ovendry) are 4.2% radial and 6.2% tangential. The wood air dries slowly.

DURABILITY
The wood is moderately durable when exposed to the weather.

WORKABILITY
Ziricote is not difficult to work and carves and turns nicely. It finishes very smoothly and attractively and takes a high polish. The wood is stable in use.

USES
Uses include fine furniture, cabinetry, turnings, rifle butts, doors, paneling, flooring and face veneer on plywood. Sometimes it is cultivated for its fruit, which can be eaten raw or made into a conserve. In the past, the bark and wood were used to make a cough syrup and the very rough leaves were used as sandpaper. Today, the tree is sometimes used for street and yard plantings.

SUPPLIES
Supplies are very limited due to scattered occurrence and the small size attained by most trees. In its native area, the wood is usually available at local sawmills, although the quality may be poor. Standing dead and down trees in the forest provide good wood, and pieces can sometimes be purchased from local residents. The tree is a slow-grower and has not been tried in plantations. Small quantities of sericote lumber are occasionally imported into the United States and sold at a very high price.

Information from A Guide to Useful Woods of the World, Second Edition, James H. Flynn, Jr. and Charles D. Holder, Editors. Forest Products Society, Madison, Wisconsin, 2001.

Photographs from MDArtworks