Chechen

Common Name(s)

Chechen, Chechem, Black Poisonwood, Caribbean Rosewood

Scientific Name

Metopium brownei

Tree Distribution

Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Guatemala, Belize, and southeastern Mexico

Tree Size

50-115 ft (15-35 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter

Janka Hardness

2250 lbf

Appearance

Heartwood color is highly varied, with red, orange, and brown contrasted with darker stripes of blackish brown. Color tends to shift to a darker reddish brown with age. Well defined sapwood is a pale yellow.

Grain / Texture

Grain is usually straight, but may be wild or interlocked. With a uniform medium to fine texture and good natural luster.

Pricing / Availability

Generally available as lumber, though turning blanks and thin craft lumber is also sold. Chechen is touted as a low-cost substitute for more expensive tropical woods, and prices should be moderate for an imported hardwood.

- Information cited from Wood-Database.com