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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
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Amburana cearensis

Trade Name
Cerejeira

Family Name
Leguminosae

Synonyms
Amburana claudii


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Common Names
Amburana, Amburana de cheiro, Angelim, Brazillian oak, Cerejeira, Cerejeira rajada, Cerejeira-rajada, Cerejeiro, Cerejeiro rajada, Cumare, Cumaru, Cumaru das caatingas, Cumaru de ceara, Cumaru de cheiro, Cumaru do ceara, Cumaru-das-caatingas, Cumbaru das cantingas, Emburana, Imburana, Imburana de cheiro, Ishpingo, Louro inga, Palo trebol, Roble, Roble criollo, Roble del norte, Roble del pais, Sorgoto, Sorioco, Trebol, Umburana, Umburana cheira

Regions of Distribution
Latin America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru

Common Uses
Bedroom suites, Boat building, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Cooperages, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Excelsior, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mine timbers, Musical instruments , Office furniture, Organ pipes, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piano keys, Pianos , Plywood corestock, Plywood, Shipbuilding, Structural work, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative

Environmental Profile
Vulnerable
Status unknown in many of its growth areas
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center
Considered vulnerable in its natural habitat because its numbers are threatened by serious adverse factors throughout its range. However, the species likely exists today in relatively large numbers.

Vulnerable in much of Peru, but thought to be more abundant in the western areas of Peru as well as Bolivia and Brazil.

Distribution Overview
Widely distributed in the dry regions of Brazil and northern Argentina. In Peru, found in the tropical dry regions of the Huanuco Department on deep well- drained soils.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Yellow
Orange
Red
Green/grey
Tan
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale brown
Brown
Yellowish tan
Light brown
Greenish to greyish


Sapwood Color
Brown
Yellow
Different than heartwood
Color not distinct from heartwood


Grain
Figure
Straight
Other (figure)
Interlocked
Even
Growth rings (figure)
Irregular
Stripe (figure)

Generally straight, but not always
Other figure
Interlocked
Clear growth rings (figure)
Striped figure
Moderately to severely interlocked
Irregular


Texture
Coarse
Medium
Resinous and oily
Coarse
Medium
Medium to coarse


Luster
Medium
High
Lustrous
Pronounced
Medium
High


Natural Durability
Durable
Moderately durable
Perishable
Non-durable
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Susceptible to insect attack
Moderately durable
Durable
Susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to decay
Non durable


Odor
Has an odor
Has a taste
Mildly scented

Cumarin or vanilla taste

Drying Defects
Distortion
Checking
Moderate twist/warp

Drying Degrade (end splitting) = none

Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Slowly
Medium to High Shrinkage
Thick Stock Requires Care
Easy
High tangential shrinkage can result from lack of care during drying.
Dries slowly


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is buttressed


Tree Size
Tree height is 30-40 m
Tree height is 20-30 m
Bole length is 10-20 m


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

General finishing qualities are rated as good

The nice scented seeds are used as perfume in toilet soaps and snuff. The fragrant oil contained in the bark of the tree is used for medicinal purposes. The species goes by many names, and is even referred to as Brazilian oak and Brazilian cherry by some in the United States because of its visual similarity to the two species.

Blunting Effect
Moderate
Blunting effect on sawing green wood is moderate
Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate
Blunting effect on machining is moderate


Boring
Fair to good results
Fairly easy to very easy
Use very sharp cutting edges to prevent grain from tearing
Good (75+ pieces out of 100 will yield good to excellent results)


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Good results


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Easy to glue
Glues well


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good mortising properties


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good moulding properties


Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
Stable
Small
Holds shape well


Nailing
Pre-Boring Recommended
Fair to Good Results
Poor to Very Poor Results
Tends to split during nailing
Pre-boring recommended
Holds nails well


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Good planing properties
Easy to plane
Advised to reduce cutting angle


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Heartwood is resistant
Sapwood has low permeability


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Responds Readily
Easy to machine
Responds well to hand tools


Screwing
Pre-boring recommended
Fair to Good Results
Recommend pre-boring


Turning
Fair to Good Results
Sharp cutting edges required
Good results


Veneering Qualities
Veneers easily
Suitable for slicing
Suitable for peeling
Difficult to veneer
Veneers moderately easy
Easy to cut
There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits
Suitable for slicing


Steam Bending
Fair to Good Results
Moderate
Good


Painting
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fair to Good Results
Satisfactory results


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Good results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Stains well


Varnishing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Satisfactory


Strength Properties
Max. crushing strength = medium
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Max. crushing strength = low
Hardness (side grain) = soft


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength924513208psi
Density40lbs/ft3
Hardness615lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength42576191psi
Shearing Strength882psi
Stiffness131514621000 psi
Specific Gravity0.480.43
Weight4139lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage5%
Volumetric Shrinkage7%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength650928kg/cm2
Density641kg/m3
Hardness278kg
Maximum Crushing Strength299435kg/cm2
Shearing Strength62kg/cm2
Stiffness921021000 kg/cm2
Specific Gravity0.480.43
Weight657624kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage5%

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

Brazier, J.D.,1975,Properties and uses of Brazilian woods,Journal of the Institute of Wood Science,7(2,pp50-57

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Celulosa Argentina,1973,Libro del Arbol,Celulosa Argentina Buenos Aires 3 Vols

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.

Gomes Mauro, J., Occhioni, P.,1954,Pulping of Latin-American Woods,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison Report,2012,964

Kaiser, J. 1994. Cerejeira:The Fragrant Hardwood. Wood of the Month, Wood and Wood Products, April, 1994, Page 48.

Koehler, A.,1928,Tests on six Argentina Woods,Tropical Wood 2(14) pp15-20

Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.

Mainieri, C., Pereira, J.A.,1965,Madeiras do Brasil,Anuario Brasileiro de Economia Florestal,17(17,PP135-416

Mainieri, C.,1970,Madeiras Brasilieras,Sao Paulo Secretaria da Agricultra, Institulo Florestral

Mainieri, C.,1978,Fichas de Caracteristicas das Madeiras Brasileiras,Inst. Pesquisas Technologicas

Moore, G.,1983,B.R.E. Information - Carejura (Amburana acreana, A. cearensis,BRE Information Paper IF5/83

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

Rizzini, C.T.,1978,Arvores e Madeiras Uteis do Brasil: Manual de Dendrologia Brasileira,Editora Edgard Blucher LTDA Brazil

Sao Paulo - Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnologicas,1956,Tabelas de Resultados obtidos para Madeiras Nacionais,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo, Brazil Bol., No.31(2nd Ed.)

Simpson, W.T. and J.A. Sagoe. 1991. Relative Drying Times of 650 Tropical Woods : Estimation by Green Moisture Content, Specific Gravity, and Green Weight Density. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-71, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

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

Tortorelli, L.,1956,Maderas y Bosques Argentinos,Editorial Acme S.A.C.I. Buenos Aires

Tropical Timber Information Centre,1975,Amburana acreana (Ducke) A.C. Smith, Amburana cearensis (Fr Allem) A.C.,Smith,State University, New York,TTIC brief No.8

WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.

White, N.C.,1971,Trials of timber for plywood manufacture: Laran - Anthocephalus cadamba,(A. chinensis,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough. Progress Report,No.73