Other Common Names:
White Mahogany, Palo blanco, Prima vera, Cortez blanco, Duranga, San Juan

Botanical Name:
Cybistax donnell-smithii

Family:
Bignoniaceae

Mature Tree Height, Diameter:
100 ft , 2-3 ft

Weight @ 12% M/C:
30 lbs./ft.3

Working Properties:
The wood is easy to work in all operations even though there may be considerable grain variation; finishes smoothly and acquires an attractive polish.

Growing Regions:
Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, and Venezuela.

General Characteristics:
Color yellowish white to light yellowish brown often with darker streaks. Luster high. Odor and taste not distinct (see discussion). Light and soft but firm. Grain usually roey producing a conspicuous ribbon figure. Texture medium.

Uses:
Furniture, cabinets, decorative veneers, and interior trim.

Acceptable Substitutes:

References:
"Commercial Foreign woods on the American Market", by David A. Kribs, Dover Pub. Inc. 1968, p. 17

Discussion:
This is a very attractive wood from several different aspects.
The Primavera we import is plantation grown --usually to shade young coffee plants, and is harvested when it has served its purpose. So, use of Primavera is ecologically friendly.

Primavera is one of the most beautiful of the light colored woods -- it has the deep, inner glow of Mahogany, and is frequently highly figured. Properly sanded and finished, it can be spectacular.

Now the negative side -- some people find the smell of the wood during machining is not to their liking -- somewhat like Cottonwood. Once the machining is complete, though, there is no noticeable odor.

In the United States, around the turn of the century, Primavera was in favor for use as a decorative millwork wood in high-quality construction. We have seen examples and cannot understand why its use has not continued -- possibly supply problems.