Search for

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. Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Luster Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Plantation species? Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Scientific Name Anacardium occidentale Trade Name Acajou Family Name Anacardiaceae Common Names Acajou, Acajou a pomme, Acaju, Boschkajoe, Cacahuil, Cajeuiro, Caju, Caju manju, Caju manso, Caju-assu, Cajueiro, Cajueiro do campo, Cajuil, Cashew, Cashew-apple, Cashew-nut, Cashu, Cherry, Geru mavu, Gerumavu, Godambe, Hijuli, Jidi, Jocote maranon, Kaju, Kaschu-baum, Kashu-mavu, Kasjoe, Kempu geru, Kola mava, Maranon, Maranon casho, Mereke, Merey, Mundiri, Nois d'acajou, Noix d'acajou, Orvi, Pajuil, Palu di cashupete, Parangi-mavu, Pomme d'acajou, Pommier cajou, Pommier d'acajou, Shilkale, Thihothayet Plantation species? Yes Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, India, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Puerto Rico [US], Trinidad and Tobago, United States Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Charcoal, Chemical derivatives, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction Heartwood Color Red Brown White Pink Green/grey Pale red to pink Greenish to greyish Brown White to cream Pale brown Sapwood Color Brown Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Straight Interlocked Interlocked Generally straight, but not always Texture Medium coarse Luster Medium Lustrous Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Non durable Toxicity Some toxic effects Dermatitic effects Drying Defects Resin Exudation Expect resin/gum exudation Ease of Drying Gum Exudation Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced occasionally for local consumption. Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Nailing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Holds nails well Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Strength Properties Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 33 lbs/ft3 Weight 32 26 lbs/ft3 Volumetric Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Density 528 kg/m3 Weight 512 416 kg/m3 References Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia Edmondson, C.H.,1949,Reaction of Woods from S.America and Caribbean areas to Marine Borers in,Hawaiian Waters,Caribbean Foresters,10(1,PP37-41 Falla Ramirez, A.,1971,Resultados de Estudios Fisico-Mechanicos de Algunas Maderas de la Serrania,de San Lucas. (Some timbers of the San Lucas mountain range.,Plegable Divulgativo, Div. Forestal, Inderena Colombia,pp6 Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Little, E.L., Wadsworth, F.H.,1964,Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.249 Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98 Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Record, S.J., Mell, C.D.,1924,Timbers of Tropical America,Yale Univ. Press Swabey, C.,1941,The Principal Timbers of Jamaica,Department of Science and Agriculture Jamaica Bulletin No.29