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CUMARU (Taralea oppositifolia)
Trade Name
Cumaru
Scientific Name
Taralea oppositifolia Aubl.
Family
LEGUMINOSAE
Common Names
Tarala (Guyana); Cumaru rana (Brazil); Shihuahuaco (Peru); Almendrillo (Bolivia)
Scientific Name Synonyms
Dipteryx oppositifolia (Aubl.) Willd.; Cumaruna oppositifolia (Aubl.) Kuntze; Coumarouna oppositifolia (Aubl.) Taub.
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
T. oppositifolia is often about 30 m in height, with a trunk diameter of about 60 to 90 cm. The boles are straight and cylindrical, with a commercial length of 20 m in the average.
Natural Habitat
Taralea oppositifolia is found in the tropical and subtropical rain forests of South America. It prefers deep soils.
Natural Distribution
The natural growth range of this species is northern South America, down to Bolivia.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Occasionally vessels in dendritic pattern. Vessels solitary and in short radial multiples. Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 150 to 200 micras (medium). Red-colored deposits in heartwood vessels. Vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 6 to 10 (m Axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Axial parenchyma aliform. Axial parenchyma confluent. Axial parenchyma storied. Prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma cells and/or in fibers. Rays more than 10 per mm (abundant). Rays less than 4 per mm (rare). Rays storied. Homogeneous rays and/or sub-homogeneous rays (all ray cells procumbent). Non-septate fibers. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits. Fibers storied.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Odor
Odor is distinct.
Color
The wood is differentiated, with a sharp contrast between sapwood and heartwood. It is dark brown to reddish brown in color, with dark streaks.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
2
Grain
The grain is frequently interlocked.
Texture
This wood has a somewhat medium texture.
Luster
This species has moderate to high luster.
Natural Durability
T. oppositifolia is a very durable timber.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
1
Resistance To Impregnation
The heartwood is extremely difficult to impregnate.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.83
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.96
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
8.2
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
5.5
Drying Defects
Kiln Schedules: This species is recommended to be dried in small pieces.
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.5
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
1167
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
884
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
1628
Workability
Sawing
It is reported to be easier to saw when green wood is processed.
Machining
The machining of this species is reported to be easier when green because of its hardness.
Planing
Planing operations are rated as fair.
Boring
Boring operations are fair when green.
Finishing
It has a good finishing.
Substitute Species
It is reported to be a possible substitute of Lignum vitae (Guaiacum officinalis).
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
EXTERIOR GENERAL, bridges, crossties, HOUSING GENERAL, beams, joists, flooring, steps, TOOLS, tool handles, CONTAINERS, truck bodies, truck flooring, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, boat hulls
Exterior General
- 1 - Tabela de resultados de ensaios fisicos e mecanicos
Bridges
- 2 - 25 madeiras da amazonia de valor comercial, caracterizacao, macroscopica, usos comuns e indices qualificativos
Crossties
- 8 - Maderas latinoamericas. III, Podocarpus standleyi ,Podocarpus oleifolius, Drims granadensis, Magnolia poasana y Didymopanax pittieri
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Beams
- 11 - Prospect: The wood database
Joists
- 12 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part I-Tropical American Species
Flooring
- 14 - Handbook of Hardwoods
Steps
- 17 - Tree Conservation Database
Tools
- 42 - Utilización Industrial de Nuevas Especies Forestales en el Perú.
Tool Handles
- 43 - Maderas de Bolivia (Características y Usos de 55 Maderas Tropicales)
Truck Body
- 53 - Timbers of the New World
Truck Flooring
- 54 - Bulletin of the Government Forest Experiment Station N.157: Identification of Tropical Woods
Shipbuilding
- 55 - Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America
Boat Hulls
- 57 - Estadísticas de Aprovechamiento, Exportación y comercialización Nacional de Productos Forestales
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