Bocote

Names and distribution: Bocote belongs to the genus Cordia (Boraginaceae family). These include very different, visually very interesting woods.

Laurel(Cordia alliodora), medium weight, walnut-colored, from Central America.
Freijo(Cordia goeldiana), very similar to Laurel, from Brazil
Bocote(Cordia gerascanthus) heavy, decorative hardwood from SW Mexico
and the rare and extremely decorative
Ziricote(Cordia dodecandra) from the Mexican lowlands.

Wood appearance: Varying, generally decorative to very decorative. Precious wood

Properties: The density of Laurel / Freijo in the dried state is 0.65 ^t/m3, for wood from plantation cultivation significantly less (approx. 0.^45t/m3). The tangential shrinkage is specified as 5.2%, the radial shrinkage as 2.7%. Laurel is dwindling slightly. Drying is unproblematic, but should be slow for thicknesses over 30 mm. Damping can accelerate the desired equalization effect, which otherwise only sets in over the years. The dimensional stability is good, as is the machinability. Planed and turned surfaces have an appealing matt sheen.
The Brinell hardness of Laurel / Freijo is 30 (plantation 22-25), the modulus of elasticity is approx. 11,500 ^N/mm2. The values for bocote and ziricote are significantly higher, due to their higher bulk density.

Application: Laurel, Freijo: joinery, for windows, doors, furniture, general use. Interior fittings.
Bocote, Zirikote: high-quality decorative and turning woods, musical instruments.

Sources:

GOTTWALD 1970: Wood identification of the most important commercial timbers
ARGE Holz: Cordia woods, sheet 72
ATIBT (1990) : ATLAS de Maderas Tropicales de América Latina

Note: according to the latest findings, but excluding any liability