Balsa

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Balsa (Ochroma lagopus, synonym O. pyramidale) is a large, fast-growing tree to 30 m tall, native from tropical South America north to southern Mexico. It is evergreen, or dry-season deciduous if the dry season is long, with large (30–50 cm) weakly palmately lobed leaves. The name balsa derives from Spanish for a raft.

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The timber is very soft and light with a coarse open grain. The density of balsa wood ranges from 100–200 kg/m³, with a typical density of about 140 kg/m³ (about one third the density of ordinary wood). This makes it a very popular material for model making and buoyancy materials (lifebelts, etc.), and was famously used by Thor Heyerdahl in his raft Kon-Tiki.

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Balsa is classified as a hardwood, the softest commercial hardwood.

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Tree: :This article is about the biological organisms known as trees. For other meanings of the word see tree (disambiguation)....

Tropical: REDIRECT Tropics...

South America: South America is a part of the American continent traversed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. South America is situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean....

Balsa related Images and Photos (experimental)

A Juvenile Kinkajou Nuzzles its Mother for Attention in a Balsa Tree