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CEREJEIRA (Amburana cearensis)

Trade Name

Cerejeira

Scientific Name

Amburana cearensis (Allemao) A.C. Sm.

Family

LEGUMINOSAE

Common Names

Umburana cheira; Umburana; Trebol; Sorioco; Sorgoto; Roble del pais; Roble del norte; Roble criollo; Palo trebol; Louro inga; Imburana; Emburana; Cumaru-das-caatingas; Cumaru do ceara; Cumaru das caatingas; Cerejeiro rajada; Cerejeiro; Cerejeira-rajada; Angelim; Amburana de cheiro; Brazillian Oak; Cumbaru Das Cantingas (Brazil); Cumaru De Cheiro (Brazil); Imburana De Cheiro (Brazil); Roble (Bolivia); Cerejeira Rajada (Brazil); Roble Del País; Palo Trébol; Ishpingo (Peru); Cumaru (Brazil); Cumare; Cerejeira (Brazil); Amburana (Brazil); Ishpingo Negro (Peru); Cumaru De Ceara (Brazil)

Scientific Name Synonyms

Torresea cearensis Allemao

Description Of The Tree

Botanical Description

The trees are large, reaching heights of up to 25 or 30 m, with trunk diameters of 50 to 90 cm. The boles have commercial lengths of about 15 m. The tree has a strong cumarin scent.

Natural Habitat

In Brazil, this species is reported to occur in Northeast region in the areas known as caatingas. In Peru, it is also found in well-drained soils of the dry tropical forests. In Bolivia it is found in lowland rain forests and semideciduous forests. It is

Natural Distribution

The species is found in Central and South America, including Argentina. In Brazil it is reported to be more abundant especially in Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais. In Peru it is reported along the Pachitea river in Huanuco.

Non Timber Uses

The nice scented seeds are used as perfume in toilet soaps. The oil present in the tree is used for medicinal purposes.

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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). Occasionally white deposits in heartwood vessels. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pit Occasionally axial parenchyma apparent with the naked eye. Axial parenchyma thick lozenge-aliform. Axial parenchyma confluent. Axial parenchyma storied. Occasionally prismatic crystals in non-chambered axial parenchyma cells. Occasionally prismatic crystals in 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Occasionally rays storied. Rays 1 to 4 seriate. Occasionally prismatic crystals in the ray cells. Homogeneous rays and/or sub-homogeneous rays (all ray cells procumbent). Occasionally septate fibers present. 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

The wood is distinctly scented like cumarin.

Color

The sapwood is indistinct from the heartwood, which is described as uniform yellow to medium-brown.

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

5

Grain

The grain is usually interlocked,

Texture

Texture is reported to be medium to coarse

Luster

The wood exhibits a medium to high luster.

Natural Durability

It is resistant to decay and insect attack.

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

3

Resistance To Impregnation

The wood is moderately resistant to preservative treatment.

Wood Physical Properties

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

0.53

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

0.58

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

5.4

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

2.7

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

2.0

Wood Chemical Properties

Wood Mechanical Properties

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

721

Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

74836

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

443

Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

91

Workability

Sawing

Cerejeira timber is reportedly easy to saw.

Rotary Veneer Cutting

This species is interesting for slicing and peeling.

Sliced Veneer

This species is interesting for slicing and peeling.

Blunting Effect

It has a slight blunting effect on tools.

Planing

Interlocked grain may pose some difficulties. A reduced angle of 20 degrees is recommended for best results.

Moulding

Molding of this species is reported to be easy.

Turning

30

Boring

Boring properties are reported to be generally good but cutting edges must be kept sharp.

Mortising

The material is reported to respond rather well to mortising.

Nailing

Nail-holding properties are good.

Gluing

The wood is reported to have good gluing qualities.

Staining

It is reported to take stains well.

Coatings

This species takes varnishes and paints satisfactorily.

Polishing

The wood has good polishing characteristics.

Response To Hand Tools

The wood has a good response to hand tools.

REFERENCED USES

End Uses Summary

HOUSING GENERAL, frames, steps, panelling, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, luxury furniture, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, Decorative veneer, TURNING, ornaments, turned furniture, cutlery, TOOLS, tool handles, CONTAINERS, cooperage, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, boat deck, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, handicrafts

General Housing
  • 10 - Silica in Timbers
Frames
  • 16 - Woods of the World
Steps
  • 17 - Tree Conservation Database
Paneling
  • 18 - W3TROPICOS Missouri Botanical Garden
Furniture Cabinets
  • 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Furniture, Luxury
  • 22 - Dry kiln schedules for commercial woods. Temperate and tropical. Section IV-Asian and Oceanian Woods
Panels, Veneers
  • 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Decorative veneer
  • 28 - Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forest of Fiji
Turning
  • 30 - Embassy of Honduras in Japan
Ornaments
  • 31 - Embassy of Colombia in Japan
Turned Articles
  • 32 - Embassy of Cote d`Ivoire in Japan
Knife Handles
  • 33 - Embassy of Gabon in Japan
Tools
  • 42 - Utilización Industrial de Nuevas Especies Forestales en el Perú.
Tool Handles
  • 43 - Maderas de Bolivia (Características y Usos de 55 Maderas Tropicales)
Containers
  • 50 - Properties of imported tropical woods
Cooperage
  • 51 - Recopilacion de propiedades mecanicas de maderas creciendo en Chile
Shipbuilding
  • 55 - Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America
Boat Decking
  • 59 - Programa Nacional de uso Sostenible de los Bosques e Incremento a las Exportaciones.
Handcraft
  • 66 - Maderas latinoamericanas. VII. Caracteristicas anatomicas. propiedades fisicomecanicas, de secado, y tratabilidad de la madera juvenil de Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav. Oken.)

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