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< Back CASTANHEIRO (Bertholletia excelsa) Print Friendly View

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CASTANHEIRO (Bertholletia excelsa)

Trade Name

Castanheiro

Scientific Name

Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl.

Family

LECYTHIDACEAE

Common Names

Noz-Do-Brasil (Brazil); Castanheira (Brazil); Castanha-Vermelha (Brazil); Castanha-Sapucaia (Brazil); Castanha-Do-Maranhão (Brazil); Castanha-Do-Brasil (Brazil); Castanha-De-Paca (Brazil); Cassipá (Brazil)

Scientific Name Synonyms

Bertholletia nobilis Miers; Barthollesia excelsa Silva Manso

Description Of The Tree

Botanical Description

The trees are reported to be very large, reaching heights of up to 50 m, occasionally up to 60 m, with trunk diameters of 100 to 180 cm. The boles are cylindrical, with commercial lengths of about 25 m.

Natural Habitat

This species is reported to be widely distributed all over the Amazon region. Bertholletia excelsa is a gregarious species, found in non-inundable areas of terra firme forests. The trade of timber of B. excelsa is restricted in Brazil. Vulnerable(IBAMA,2

Natural Distribution

In Brazil it is found in the Amazon basin from Goias and Mato Grosso, up to Rondonia and Acre states in the south.

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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. Tyloses common. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to intervessel pits Occasionally axial parenchyma apparent with the naked eye. Axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Axial parenchyma in continuous tangential lines (included in reticulate and scalariform). Prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Rays 1 to 4 seriate. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.

  • Wood Macro Photo Tangential Plane
  • Wood Micro Photo Of Transversal Section

Availability

Cites Status

Unrestricted

General Wood Description

Odor

Odor and taste are indistinct.

Color

The heartwood is pink grayish in color, slightly differentiated from the sapwood which is yellowish gray.

COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)

5

Grain

The grain is usually irregular.

Texture

The wood is typically medium in texture.

Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)

3

Resistance To Impregnation

B. excelsa is difficult to treat, with low retention of preservatives.

Wood Physical Properties

Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)

0.71

Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)

0.80

Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)

9.4

Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)

4.7

Drying Defects

Drying Defects: Slight checking and warping are reported.

Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)

2.0

Wood Chemical Properties

Wood Mechanical Properties

Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)

1183

Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

128000

Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

595

Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

101

Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

117

Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)

667

Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)

823

Workability

Sawing

The response of this wood in sawing is fair.

Machining

Workability of this timber is considered as good.

Planing

Planing of this species is fair.

REFERENCED USES

End Uses Summary

HOUSING GENERAL, fittings, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER

General Housing
  • 10 - Silica in Timbers
Fittings
  • 19 - Silica in Timbers
Furniture Cabinets
  • 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Cabinet
  • 24 - Empire Timbers
Panels, Veneers
  • 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia

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