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COPAIBA (Copaifera officinalis)
Trade Name
Copaiba
Scientific Name
Copaifera officinalis (Jacq.) L.
Family
LEGUMINOSAE
Common Names
Caniva (Panama); Balsamo (Trinidad & Tobago); Bálsamo De Copaiba (Cuba); Aceite (Venezuela); Copaiba (Peru); Cupay (Paraguay); Aceite Copaiba (Colombia); Canime (Colombia); Bálsamo De Copa (Cuba); Copaiba (Colombia); Copaiba (Ecuador); Copaiba (Peru); Palo De Aceite; Pau Olho (Brazil); Pau De Óleo (Brazil); Aceite (Venezuela); Currucay; Camiba; Cabimo; Copaíba (Brazil); Copahyba (Brazil); Copahiba (Brazil)
Scientific Name Synonyms
Copaiva officinalis Jacq.; Copaifera jacquinii Desf.; Copaiba officinalis Adans.
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
It is a large tree, reaching heights of up to 40 m, with trunk diameters of 60 cm. The boles are cylindrical, without buttresses, and commercial lengths of about 20 m.
Natural Habitat
Copaifera officinalis is spread in tropical America in a wide variety of habitats in tropical rain and dry forests. It prefers well drained sites.
Natural Distribution
The natural growth range of this species is Central America and tropical South America, it is also grows in the Caribbean.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Vessels solitary and in short radial multiples. Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 150 to 200 micras (medium). Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to intervessel pits in size and shape. I Axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Axial parenchyma in thick bands. Prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma cells and/or in fibers. Two cells per parenchyma strand. 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Rays 1 to 4 seriate. Homogeneous rays and/or sub-homogeneous rays (all ray cells procumbent). Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Odor
It has no distinct odor or taste.
Color
The sapwood is pinkish red, the heartwood suddenly changes into yellowish red.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
3
Grain
Straight or interlocked grain is often found in this species.
Texture
The wood is typically medium in texture.
Luster
The wood surfaces tend to be moderately to highly lustrous
Natural Durability
Copaiba timber is reported as moderately durable against decay and insects attack.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
3
Resistance To Impregnation
The timber is difficult to treat with preservatives.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.61
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.67
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
6.6
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
4.2
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: This species air seasons rapidly and almost without defects. Drying Defects: In Colombia risk of twisting and cupping is reported.
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
JUNAC-A
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.6
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
911
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
80000
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
479
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
92
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
116
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
537
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
622
Workability
Sawing
This species is easy to saw.
Rotary Veneer Cutting
Light Copaifera species are reported to be interesting for peeling, the heavier species can be sliced.
Sliced Veneer
Light Copaifera species are reported to be interesting for peeling, the heavier species can be sliced.
Planing
Planing operations are rather easy.
Moulding
Molding is reported to be easy.
Turning
30
Boring
This species is easy to bore.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, beams, joists, boards, flooring, frames, steps, panelling, fittings, shutter boards, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, faces, TURNING, CONTAINERS, truck bodies, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, door core, moldings
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Beams
- 11 - Prospect: The wood database
Joists
- 12 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part I-Tropical American Species
Boards
- 13 - Dry kiln schedules for commercial woods. Temperate and tropical. Section III. Latin American (Mexico, Central, and South America) Woods–Conventional Temperatures
Flooring
- 14 - Handbook of Hardwoods
Frames
- 16 - Woods of the World
Steps
- 17 - Tree Conservation Database
Paneling
- 18 - W3TROPICOS Missouri Botanical Garden
Fittings
- 19 - Silica in Timbers
Shutter Boards
- 20 - Prospect: The wood database
Furniture Cabinets
- 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Panels, Veneers
- 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Faces
- 26 - Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation 1998-ITTO
Turning
- 30 - Embassy of Honduras in Japan
Truck Body
- 53 - Timbers of the New World
Door Cores
- 76 - Descripción General y Anatómica de 105 Maderas del Grupo Andino.
Molding
- 79 - Padronização da Nomenclatura Comercial Brasileira das Madeiras Tropicais Amazônicas, Sugestão
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