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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 Schedules
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Silica Content
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Couratari guianensis

Trade Name
Capa de tabaco

Family Name
Lecythidaceae

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Capa de tabaco, Coco cabuyo, Congolo garapelo, Couatari, Fine leaf wadara, Iengipipa, Imbirema, Ingie-pipa, Ingiepipa, Ingipipa, Inguipipa, Irimariye, Irimiyar, Mahot, Mahot cigare, Marimari, Tabari, Tampipio, Tauari, Tauary, Urimari, Wadara, Waranaka

Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela

Common Uses
Balusters, Bent Parts, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Ceiling, Chairs, Chests, Concrete formwork, Construction, Crossties, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Form work, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, General carpentry, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Veneer, Wheel spokes, Wheels

Environmental Profile
Abundant/Secure
Status unknown in many of its growth areas
Rare in some parts of its range, particularly at the periphery
Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range
Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions.
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center
Data source is Nature Conservancy

Its status in the wild is currently listed as unknown because of insufficient information in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam, and Venezuela

Distribution Overview
Grows in the hill forests in Costa Rica, Panama, and adjacent Colombia, as well as in diverse forest types from Venezuela and the Guianas to Amazonian Brazil.

Heartwood Color
Yellow
White
Brown
Orange
Black
Green/grey
Red
Tan
White to cream
Pale red to pink
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale brown
Yellowish tinge
Brown


Sapwood Color
Green/Grey
Red
Brown
Yellow
White
Same as heartwood
Clearly differentiated from the heartwood


Grain
Straight
Figure
Interlocked
Even
Other (figure)
Silver tint (figure)

Straight
Interlocked
Straight to interlocked
Silver tinted figure
Other figure

The material exhibits a fine but faintly visible silver figure.

Texture
Medium
Coarse
Fine
Medium
Medium to coarse


Luster
Lustrous
Medium
Low


Natural Durability
Perishable
Non-durable
Susceptible to insect attack
Non-resistant to termites
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Non-resistant to marine borers
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to attack from marine borers
Non durable
Durable
Very little natural resistance
Very durable
Susceptible to termite and dry wood insect attack
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack


Odor
Has an odor
Fetid odor


Silica Content
Moderate silica contact
Likely to have significant impact on machining
Contains high levels of silica (> 0.8% of dry weight)


Toxicity
Some toxic effects


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
Dry at a moderate speed


Drying Defects
Splitting
Distortion
Checking
Moderate surface checking
Slight twist/warp
No cupping, generally
Slight surface checking
Slight spring/bow
Severe end splitting
No twisting or warping
Generally free from spring and bow


Ease of Drying
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Moderate
Easy
Difficult


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is buttressed
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is cylindrical


Tree Size
Tree height is 30-40 m
Bole length is 10-20 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Tree height is 20-30 m
Tree height is 10-20 m
Tree height is 0-10 m
Bole length is 20-30 m
Sapwood width is 0-5 cm


Product Sources
The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber. The timber is exported in low quantities.

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory

Blunting Effect
Moderate to severe
Blunting effect on machining is moderate


Boring
Fairly difficult to very difficult


Carving
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Generally good results


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Difficult to saw


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Easy to glue
Glues well


Mortising
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Moulding
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Movement in Service
Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement
Stable


Nailing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Holds satisfactorily
Easy to nail


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Very Good to Excellent Results
Specially-tipped cutters recommended
Planes well, to a good finish


Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable heartwood
Resistant heartwood
Permeable sapwood
Resistant sapwood
Heartwood is permeable
Sapwood is permeable
Permeable


Resistance to Splitting
Satisfactory


Response to Hand Tools
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Easy to Work
Easy to machine
Variable qualities


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Screwing
Easy to screw


Turning
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Veneering Qualities
Good gluing qualities


Steam Bending
Poor


Painting
Satisfactory results
Good results


Polishing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Satisfactory results
Good results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results


Varnishing
Satisfactory
Good results


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Max. crushing strength = medium
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high
Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = high
Work to Maximum Load = very low
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Max. crushing strength = high
Heavy
Hardness (side grain) = hard
Density = high
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high
Bending strength (MOR) = very low


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength907713705psi
Density42lbs/ft3
Hardness995lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength43457252psi
Shearing Strength1447psi
Stiffness173919081000 psi
Work to Maximum Load57inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.42
Weight3831lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage7%
Volumetric Shrinkage11%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength638963kg/cm2
Density673kg/m3
Hardness451kg
Maximum Crushing Strength305509kg/cm2
Shearing Strength101kg/cm2
Stiffness1221341000 kg/cm2
Work to Maximum Load0.350.49cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.42
Weight608496kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage7%

References
Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers - The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research

Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1984,Inguipipa - Couratari pulchra Sandw.,Bois et Forets des Tropiques Vol. 203 p.52

Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1992,New potentially commercial tree species for Latin America: Couratari spp.,[Nouvelles essences commercialisables d'Ameriques Latine: tauari],Bois et Forets des Tropiques. 1992., No.234, 73-76

Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1992,Tauari - Couratari oblongifolia Ducke et Knuth, C. guianensis Aubl., C.,multiflora Eyma, C. stellata A.C. Smith, C. macrosperma A.C. Smith,Bois et Forets des Tropiques Vol. 234

Chichignoud, M., G. Deon, P. Detienne, B. Parant, and P. Vantomme. 1990. Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-marne, CEDEX, France.

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

Fanshawe, D.B.,1954,Forest Products of British Guiana Part 1 Principal Timbers,Forest Department British Guiana Forestry Bulletin (New Series 2nd,Edition,No.1

Hess, R.W., Wangaard, F.F., Dickinson, F.E.,1950,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 2,Tropical Woods,13(97,pp1-132

ITTO. New Marketable Species Technical Notes. Prepared by Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, 94736 Nogent-sur-marne Cedex, France

Lamb, A.F.A., Wangaard, F.F.,1950,The Gluing Properties of certain Tropical American Woods,Yale Univ. School of Forestry Technical Report,4

Maeglin, R., C. K. Baah, G. Troemmer, J. D. Danielson, and S. P. Loehnertz. 1989. Pre-project Report: Sawing of Difficult Species. Prepared for International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Polak, A.M.,1992,Major Timber Trees of Guyana A Field Guide,The Tropenbos Foundation Wageningen, The Netherlands

Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4

Wangaard, F.F., Chudnoff, M.,1950,The Steam Bending Properties of Certain Tropical American Woods,Yale Univ. School of Forestry Technical Report No. 6

Wangaard, F.F., Muschler, A.F.,1952,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 3,Tropical Woods,14(98, pp1-190









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