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CARACOLí (Anacardium giganteum)
Trade Name
Caracolí
Scientific Name
Anacardium giganteum Hancock ex Engler
Family
ANACARDIACEAE
Common Names
Caju-Da-Mata (Brazil); Caju-Açu (Brazil); Caju (Brazil); Caferana (Brazil)
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
It is a dominant tree, with total heights of 20 to 30 m, and trunk diameters ranging from 80 to 120 cm.
Natural Habitat
Anacardium giganteum is found in gallery forests, generally below elevations of 1,000 m. It is a gregarious species, preferring well drained soils. It is dominant in primary and secondary forests.
Natural Distribution
This species is widely distributed in tropical America, including the West Indies. In Brazil it is reported in the Amazonia from the Mato Grosso south to Para.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Vessels solitary and in short radial multiples. Occasionally tangential diameter of vessel lumina 200 micras or more. Occasionally tyloses common. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits coarse through Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Axial parenchyma lozenge-aliform. Non-crystals in axial parenchyma cells. 3 to 4 cells per parenchyma strand. 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Rays exclusively uniseriate. Occasionally silica bodies in the ray cells. Heterogeneous rays and/or multiseriate heterogeneous rays. Body ray cells procumbent with one row of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-III). Non-septate fibers. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Odor
Seasoned wood has no characteristic odor or taste.
Color
The heartwood is reported to be gray color when green, changing to yellow color when dry.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
4
Texture
The wood is mostly medium in texture.
Luster
The wood luster is reported to be rather low.
Natural Durability
It has very low natural resistance to decay, and it is susceptible to attack by termites and dry wood insects.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
5
Resistance To Impregnation
It can be readily impregnated with preservative substances.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.48
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.52
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
6.3
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
3.4
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Air seasoning is reported to be moderate. Drying Defects: Crooking and twisting are reported.
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.9
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
703
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
299
Workability
Sawing
Sawing of this species is reported to be rather easy.
Rotary Veneer Cutting
It is interesting for rotary peeling, no thermal treatments are required.
Sliced Veneer
It is interesting for rotary peeling, no thermal treatments are required.
Machining
Machining of this species is reported to be easy.
Planing
Planing of this species is rated as difficult.
Nailing
This wood is easy to nail, but it has mediocre nail holding properties.
Gluing
Gluing behavior is reportedly good.
Polishing
It is easy to polish.
Response To Hand Tools
The wood responds well to hand tools.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, panelling, shutter boards, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, faces, cores, common veneer, BENDING, tennis rackets, SPORTS, table tennis, PACKING, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, handicrafts
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Paneling
- 18 - W3TROPICOS Missouri Botanical Garden
Shutter Boards
- 20 - Prospect: The wood database
Panels, Veneers
- 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Faces
- 26 - Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation 1998-ITTO
Cores
- 27 - Embassy of Brazil in Japan
Common Veneer
- 29 - Embassy of Ecuador in Japan
Bending
- 35 - Embassy of Myanmar in Japan
Tennis Rackets
- 37 - Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation 1998-ITTO
Sports
- 38 - Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation 1998-ITTO
- 41 - Embassy of the Philippines
Packing
- 45 - Recopilación y Análisis de Estudios Tecnológicos de Maderas Peruanas
Handcraft
- 66 - Maderas latinoamericanas. VII. Caracteristicas anatomicas. propiedades fisicomecanicas, de secado, y tratabilidad de la madera juvenil de Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav. Oken.)
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