ifil

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In Guam, Intsia bijuga, the most valuable timber-tree growing on the island. It has abruptly pinnate leaves, usually with two pairs of leaflets, and bears a rigid, flat pod containing from one to five seeds. The heart-wood is very hard and heavy but not elastic. It is tough and cross-grained and very difficult to plane, of a yellowish color at first but gradually turning darker until it resembles black walnut in color. Though of rather coarse grain it takes a fine polish and is much used for furniture and for the floors of houses of the better class. It resists the attacks of white ants (termites), and is used for posts. At Agafia, the capital of Guam, the pillars of the church are single straight trunks of this tree. See vesi.