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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 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 Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resin Content Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Hymenaea courbaril Trade Name Courbaril Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Hymenaea resinifera Common Names Abati, Abati copal do Brasil, Abati timbary, Alga, Algarobo, Algarrobo, Animebaum, Arati, Arvore copal, Asucar-juain, Avati, Azucar huayo, Bati timbary, Bois de courabaril, Bois de courabil, Bois de courbaril, Bois de simire, Brazilian gum-copal tree, Cacachien, Cachien, Caguairan, Cannariboom, Caouroubali, Caroubier, Caroubier de la Guyane, Cataqui-iamani, Chimidida, Cimiri, Ciruelo, Coapinol, Coapinoloe, Colorado, Comer de arara, Copal, Copalier, Copalier d'Amerique, Copalier de Amerique, Copinol, Copinole, Corobore, Coubaril de savane, Courabil, Courabil hout, Courbaril, Courbaril de savane, Courbaril montagne, Courbaril plum, Courbarilhout, Cuapinol, Cuapinole, Cuapinoli, Cupainol, Curbaril, Diphylle pois confiture, Diphylle pois de confiture, Gaupinol, Gom anime boom, Gomme armimec, Guapinol, Guapinole, Gum-anime tree, Henschreckenbaum, Henschrenkenbaum, Iibiuva, Itaiba, Jassai, Jataby, Jatahy, Jatahy cafe, Jatahy peba, Jatahy roxa, Jatahy roxo, Jatai, Jatai monde, Jatai uba, Jatai-acu, Jataiba, Jataizinho, Jatany, Jatauba, Jatay, Jatei, Jatel, Jatoba, Jatoba de anta, Jatoba de porco, Jatoba roxa, Jatoba trapuca, Jatoba verdadeiro, Jatobs, Jatuba, Jengi kanda, Jetahy, Jetahy accu, Jetahy preta, Jetahy roxo, Jetai, Jetai de Pernambuco, Jetaiba, Jetaici, Jetay, Jetoba roxo, Jetui peba, Julchihout, Jupati, Jut, Jutaahy assu, Jutahy, Jutahy assu, Jutahy cafe, Jutahy catina, Jutahy catinga, Jutahy da varzea, Jutahy do campo, Jutahy do igapo, Jutahy miry, Jutahy peba, Jutahy pororoca, Jutahy roxo, Jutai, Jutai branco, Jutai cafe, Jutai catinga, Jutai da varzea, Jutai do campo, Jutai do igapo, Jutai grande, Jutai mirim, Jutai peba, Jutai pororoca, Jutai roxo, Jutai-acu, Jutany, Jutany de campo, Jutay branco, K'wannarri, Kakanjan boesoe, Karvanari, Kawaknalli, Kawanari, Kwanari, Leather-leaved locust, Leathery-leaved locust, Legno locusta, Locus, Locus semirie, Locusboom, Locust, Locust gum, Locustrier, Lokisi kaka, Lokisie, Loksi, Lokus, Lokustbaum, Marbre, Masaicaran, Moire, Nazareno, Nere, Not, Oleo de jatai, Oleo jatahy, Pacuy, Pak, Pakay, Palito, Palito colorado, Pampa estoraque, Pie de venado, Pois confiture, Quapinole, Quapinole jutahy, Quauhpinolli, Quebra machado, Rode locus, Rode rode locus, Semirie, Simiri, Simiri locust, Simirie, Sirari, South American locust, Spruikhaanboom, Stinking toe, Stinking-toe, Surinaamsch teakhout, Surixkra, Tema, Trapuca, Tsi-tsi-nau, Urapinol, West Indian locust, Westindisch teakhout, Westindsch teakhout, Yatayba, Yutachi, Yutahi, Yutahy, Yutayba yutahy Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guadelope [France], Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico [US], Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Bent Parts, Boat building, Broom handles, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Crossties, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Handles, Hatracks, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Living-room suites, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shafts/Handles, Shipbuilding, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tool handles, Turnery, Utility furniture Environmental Profile Widespread Vulnerable with the possibility of extinction in the future Rather rare in parts of its range expecially at periphery Globally secure Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant Distribution Overview Southern Mexico, throughout Central America and the West Indies to northern Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru.  The tree's best development is on ridges or slopes and high riverbanks. Throughout West Indies from Cuba and Jamaica to Trinidad and Tobago. Also from central Mexico to Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and French Guiana. Rarely planted in southern Florida. Ranging from Tropical Dry to Wet through Subtropical Dry to Wet Forest Life Zones. Heartwood Color Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Brown Dark brown Red Pale brown Dark brown Red-salmon Purple Darkens upon exposure Contains dark streaks Brown-orange Black Sapwood Color White to yellow Well defined Pinkish Different than heartwood Whitish Grain Interlocked Straight Figure Stripe (figure) Growth rings (figure) Even Distinct (figure) Other (figure) Straight Interlocked Striped figure Clear growth rings (figure) Distinct figure Other figure Generally interlocked Texture Fine Medium Medium to coarse Medium Fine to medium Coarse Fine Luster Medium Lustrous Dull Dull to fairly lustrous Natural Durability Perishable Susceptible to marine borer attack Durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Moderate heartwood resistance to marine borers Heartwood natural resistance to decay is moderate Heartwood is highly resistant to termite attack Odor No specific smell or taste Resin Content Contains resin The bark contains an orange or yellowish resin called South American copal, which is used in the manufacture of special types of varnishes and cements. Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a moderate speed Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a slow speed UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 UK= C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 T3 - C2 (4/4) US T3 - C1 (8/4) US Schedule C (4/4) United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Slight surface checking Slight twist/warp Moderate twist/warp Moderate spring/bow Severe spring/bow Moderate surface checking Slight end splitting Severe twisting/warping Moderate cupping Slight spring/bow Slight cupping No twisting or warping No surface checking No end splitting No cupping, generally Ease of Drying Difficult Moderate Easy Dries rapidly Difficult to air dry Kiln Drying Rate Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber for export. Supplies of Courbaril are rather limited on the US market, but the material may be available on the European market. Comments Cells may contain dark gum-like deposits General finishing qualities are rated as good Generally strong and durable It is similar to the African species, Tchitola (Oxystigma oxyphyllum), Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia ), and is superior to White oak (Quercus alba ). Fossilized gum from the bark of the species usually appears in excavations which might suggest the presence of Courbaril at such sights in the past Blunting Effect Medium effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Boring Easy Difficult Cutting Resistance Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Gluing Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Mortising Finishes well Easy to mortise Difficult to mortise Moulding Good finishing results Easy to mould Difficult to mould Movement in Service Medium Seasoned wood is stable The timber is stable after seasoning to the proper moisture content, and undergoes minimal dimensional changes in response to fluctuations in atmospheric conditions Nailing Difficult to nail Easy to nail Nails hold poorly Holds nails well Planing Difficult to plane Planes to a poor finish Planes well, to a good finish Ease of planing is moderate Tension & interlocked grain may cause woolly surfaces Reduction of cutting angle prevents tearing in areas of irregular grain Planes to a satisfactory finish Carbibe tipped tools recommended Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Good Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Moderate working qualities Poor response Easy to machine Sanding Good sanding finish Easy to sand Good sanding qualities Screwing Screwing yields satisfactory results Possible if prebored Holds screws well Turning Good results Easy to turn Difficult to turn Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Suitable for slicing Easy to cut Steam Bending Very good Good Painting Satisfactory results Polishing Poor results Satisfactory results Good results Staining Good staining qualities Varnishing Very well Satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Radial = very small Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high