Características de la madera de Cedrela odorata L (cedro amargo, Meliaceae) en Costa Rica.

Cedrela odorata L. is a deciduous tree 30-35 m height and 1.5 m in diameter, native to Costa Rica, which grows in areas ranging from 1500-3000 m.s.n.m. The wood has coarse and heterogeneous texture, linear grain and superposed areas in tangential section with 2-4 growth rings 12.5 cm. Porosity is diffuse, circular or semicircular. There is variation in pore size, vessel element length, fiber length, cell wall thickness of fibers and ray composition between specimens collected at different localities. Runkel factor corresponds to Group IV, regular for pulp production; however, the physical and mechanical characteristics show the wood to be excellent for building and cabinetwork.Cedrela odorata L. es un árbol caducifolio de 30-35 m de altura y 1,5 m de diámetro, nativo de Costa Rica, que crece entre los 1500-2000 m.s.n.m. La madera varía estructuralmente de acuerdo con la zona de procedencia y es de calidad regular para la obtención de pulpa para papel; no obstante, es excelente para ebanistería y construcción