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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Tabebuia serratifolia Trade Name Lapacho Family Name Bignoniaceae Common Names Acapro, Akkeja, Akkekeja, Ala-onni, Ala-ore, Alahorre, Alan-che, Alcapro, Alumbre, Amapa, Amapa prieta, Amapa priete, Amapa prieto, Aoka, Arabore, Araguaney, Arahoni, Aravaney, Arawnig, Arawnig-yek, Arco, Arcwood, Arowore, Arra-ore, Arrhonee, Aruain, Bastard lignum vitae, Bethabara, Bois d'ebene verte, Bois d'evilasse, Bow wood, Bow-wood, Caexeta, Canada, Canaguate, Canahuate, Chicala, Cogwood, Coralibe, Cortes, Cortes amarillo, Cortez, Cortez amarillo, Cortez colorado, Cortez de venado, Corteza, Cortés, Courali, Curari, Curarire, Ebano verde, Ebene soufre, Ebene vert, Ebene verte, Echahumo, Enbotta-koenatjepre, Flor amarillo, Greenheart, Grenhatti, Grienharti, Groenhart, Groenhati, Guayacan, Guayacan polvillo, Gupariba, Hackia, Hackoyia, Haekia, Hahuache, Hakia, Hakkea, Ijzerhout, Ipe, Ipe amarillo, Ipe cascudo, Ipe de varzea, Ipe do compo, Ipe folhas roxas, Ipe jabotica, Ipe preto, Ipe roxo, Ipe tabaco, Ipe una, Irontree, Ironwood, Konawadranup, Lapachillo tally, Lapacho, Lapacho amarillo, Lapacho blanco, Lapacho crespo, Lapacho negro, Lapacho rosa, Lignum vitae, Lubre, Madera negra, Makagrien, Makka groenhart, Mangienhatti, Mano de leon, Masicaran, Noibwood, Pao d'arco, Pao d'arco amarillo, Pao d'arco roxo, Pau d'Arco, Pau darco, Penda, Polvillo, Poui, Pui, Quebracho, Quiarapaiba, Ranoi, Roble, Roble cinero, Surinam greenheart, Tabebuia, Tahua, Tahuari, Tamura tuira, Tauary, Taye, Tayi, Urupariba, Verdecillo, Washiba, Wasiba, Wasieba, Wassiba, Wehete, Whoua-whoua, Woile, Xha-hua-che, Yellow guayacan, Yellow poui Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Agricultural implements, Barge fenders, Bearings & bushings, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Cooperages, Crossties, Decks, Decorative veneer, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Figured veneer, Fishing rods, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture, Handles, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Naval architecture, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Raft floats, Rafts, Railroad ties, Shade rollers, Shafts/Handles, Shakes, Sheathing, Shingles, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Walking sticks Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Questionable Vulnerable Widespread Rare in some parts of its range, particularly at the periphery Globally secure Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant Distribution Overview Distributed widely from Colombia to Bolivia, the Guianas, and southeastern Brazil. It is descrbed as ecologically diverse, especially in the Brazilian mata atlantica. It occurs mostly in more or less seasonal forests on well-drained lateritic soils in the Amazons, but also grows on richer or sandy soils and even into the cerrado in sub-Amazonian Brazil. The tree is usually found near sea level up to an elevation of 3940 feet (1200 m). Heartwood Color Brown Purple Red Pink Greenish to greyish Brown Dark brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Pale brown Light/Dark streaks Brown - olive Black Sapwood Color White White to yellow Well defined Different than heartwood Pinkish Whitish Grain Figure Straight Other (figure) Rippled (figure) Distinct (figure) Even Interlocked Variable (figure) Straight Other figure Rippled figure Variable figure Interlocked Distinct figure Straight to very irregular and interlocked Distinct and very fine figure Texture Resinous and oily Coarse Medium Fine Fine to medium Medium Oily appearance Luster Low Medium Slightly lustrous Lustrous Medium Low Natural Growth Defects Yellowish deposits in vessels Natural Durability Durable Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Heartwood susceptible to marine borer attack Heartwood is resistant to termite and dry wood insect attack Heartwood has little resistance to termites Durable Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Dermatitic effects Respiratory effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 T3 - C1 (4/4) US Schedule E (4/4) United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow Drying Defects Splitting Checking Collapse Distortion Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Slight cupping No twisting or warping No end splitting Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Easy Kiln Drying Rate Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber. The timber is exported regularly. The wood is imported from Brazil into Italy, Argentina, United States, Barbados, and Venezuela. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Similar in properties to Tabebuis guajacan from Honduras and T.heterotricha from Panama Blunting Effect Moderate Interlocked slightly to moderately Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly easy to very easy Moderately easy Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Very difficult Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Gluing Fair to Good Results Carefully Controlled Conditions Surface Preparation Surface preperation improves gluing Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Reduction of cutting angle of 15 degrees is recommended Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Small Stable Nailing Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Possible if prebored Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Reduction of cutting angle recommended Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Sapwood is permeable Highly resistant Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Difficult to machine Moderate working qualities Poor response Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Easy to sand Screwing Possible if prebored Good screw holding properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Turns with moderate ease Material with interlocked grain should be avoided Good turning characteristics Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Yeild highly decorative veneers Diifficult to veneer Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor Painting Surface preparation may imporve results Difficult to paint Surface preparation to remove yellowish lapachol powder may improve painting qualities. Polishing Fair to Good Results Surface Preparation Good results Generally polishes well Occasionally yellowish, powdery deposits of lapachol may interfere with polishing Staining Surface Preparation Fair to Good Results Finish is generally good Stains well Varnishing Powdery deposits make varnishing difficult Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Max. crushing strength = very high Density (dry weight) = >75 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = high