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Blunting Effect Boring Carving 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 Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Couratari guianensis Trade Name Capa de tabaco Family Name Lecythidaceae Common Names Capa de tabaco, Coco cabuyo, Congolo garapelo, Couatari, Fine leaf wadara, Iengipipa, Imbirema, Ingie-pipa, Ingiepipa, Ingipipa, Inguipipa, Irimariye, Irimiyar, Mahot, Mahot cigare, Marimari, Tabari, Tampipio, Tauari, Tauary, Urimari, Wadara, Waranaka Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela Common Uses Balusters, Bent Parts, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Ceiling, Chairs, Chests, Concrete formwork, Construction, Crossties, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Form work, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, General carpentry, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Veneer, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status unknown in many of its growth areas Rare in some parts of its range, particularly at the periphery Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Data source is Nature Conservancy Its status in the wild is currently listed as unknown because of insufficient information in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam, and Venezuela Distribution Overview Grows in the hill forests in Costa Rica, Panama, and adjacent Colombia, as well as in diverse forest types from Venezuela and the Guianas to Amazonian Brazil. Heartwood Color Yellow White Brown Orange Black Green/grey Red Tan White to cream Pale red to pink Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Yellowish tinge Brown Sapwood Color Green/Grey Red Brown Yellow White Same as heartwood Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Straight Figure Interlocked Even Other (figure) Silver tint (figure) Straight Interlocked Straight to interlocked Silver tinted figure Other figure The material exhibits a fine but faintly visible silver figure. Texture Medium Coarse Fine Medium Medium to coarse Luster Lustrous Medium Low Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to marine borers Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from marine borers Non durable Durable Very little natural resistance Very durable Susceptible to termite and dry wood insect attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Odor Has an odor Fetid odor Silica Content Moderate silica contact Likely to have significant impact on machining Contains high levels of silica (> 0.8% of dry weight) Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Checking Moderate surface checking Slight twist/warp No cupping, generally Slight surface checking Slight spring/bow Severe end splitting No twisting or warping Generally free from spring and bow Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Moderate Easy Difficult Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 0-10 m Bole length is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber. The timber is exported in low quantities. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect Moderate to severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Generally good results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Difficult to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to glue Glues well Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Stable Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Holds satisfactorily Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Specially-tipped cutters recommended Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is permeable Sapwood is permeable Permeable Resistance to Splitting Satisfactory Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Easy to machine Variable qualities Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Screwing Easy to screw Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Veneering Qualities Good gluing qualities Steam Bending Poor Painting Satisfactory results Good results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Varnishing Satisfactory Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Work to Maximum Load = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Max. crushing strength = high Heavy Hardness (side grain) = hard Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9077 13705 psi Density 42 lbs/ft3 Hardness 995 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 4345 7252 psi Shearing Strength 1447 psi Stiffness 1739 1908 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 5 7 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.42 Weight 38 31 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 638 963 kg/cm2 Density 673 kg/m3 Hardness 451 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 305 509 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 101 kg/cm2 Stiffness 122 134 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.35 0.49 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.42 Weight 608 496 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers - The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1984,Inguipipa - Couratari pulchra Sandw.,Bois et Forets des Tropiques Vol. 203 p.52 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1992,New potentially commercial tree species for Latin America: Couratari spp.,[Nouvelles essences commercialisables d'Ameriques Latine: tauari],Bois et Forets des Tropiques. 1992., No.234, 73-76 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1992,Tauari - Couratari oblongifolia Ducke et Knuth, C. guianensis Aubl., C.,multiflora Eyma, C. stellata A.C. Smith, C. macrosperma A.C. Smith,Bois et Forets des Tropiques Vol. 234 Chichignoud, M., G. Deon, P. Detienne, B. Parant, and P. Vantomme. 1990. Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-marne, CEDEX, France. Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Fanshawe, D.B.,1954,Forest Products of British Guiana Part 1 Principal Timbers,Forest Department British Guiana Forestry Bulletin (New Series 2nd,Edition,No.1 Hess, R.W., Wangaard, F.F., Dickinson, F.E.,1950,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 2,Tropical Woods,13(97,pp1-132 ITTO. New Marketable Species Technical Notes. Prepared by Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, 94736 Nogent-sur-marne Cedex, France Lamb, A.F.A., Wangaard, F.F.,1950,The Gluing Properties of certain Tropical American Woods,Yale Univ. School of Forestry Technical Report,4 Maeglin, R., C. K. Baah, G. Troemmer, J. D. Danielson, and S. P. Loehnertz. 1989. Pre-project Report: Sawing of Difficult Species. Prepared for International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Polak, A.M.,1992,Major Timber Trees of Guyana A Field Guide,The Tropenbos Foundation Wageningen, The Netherlands Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4 Wangaard, F.F., Chudnoff, M.,1950,The Steam Bending Properties of Certain Tropical American Woods,Yale Univ. School of Forestry Technical Report No. 6 Wangaard, F.F., Muschler, A.F.,1952,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 3,Tropical Woods,14(98, pp1-190