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COPAIBA (Copaifera pubiflora)

Trade Name

Copaiba

Scientific Name

Copaifera pubiflora Benth.

Family

LEGUMINOSAE

Common Names

Balsamo (Trinidad & Tobago); Bálsamo De Copaiba (Cuba); Aceite (Venezuela); Copaiba (Peru); Cupay (Paraguay); Canime (Colombia); Aceite Copaiba (Colombia); Caniva (Panama); Palo De Aceite; Cupaiba (Colombia); Aceite Copaiba (Venezuela); Aceite Cabimo (Venezuela); Copaíba (Brazil)

Scientific Name Synonyms

Copaifera martii var. publiflora (Benth.) Benth.

Description Of The Tree

Botanical Description

The trees are reported to reach heights of up to 40 m, with trunk diameters of 100 cm. The boles are cylindrical, with commercial lengths of about 30 m.

Natural Habitat

Copaifera pubiflora is found in tropical rain and dry forests. It prefers lowland well drained sites.

Natural Distribution

It is reported to occur in Venezuela and Colombia.

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 less than Axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Paratracheal axial parenchyma thin vasicentric. Axial parenchyma aliform. Prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma cells and/or in fibers. 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Rays 1 to 4 seriate. Body ray cells procumbent with one row of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-III). Occasionally septate fibers present. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.

  • Wood Macro Photo Radial Plane

Availability

Cites Status

Unrestricted

General Wood Description

Odor

Typical, oily. It has a bitter taste

Color

The sapwood is pinkish white, the heartwood is reddish yellow.

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

5

Grain

The grain is reported to be straight or interlocked.

Texture

This species is usually reported to have a medium texture.

Luster

The wood is described as moderate in luster.

Natural Durability

Copaiba timber is reported as moderately durable against decay and insects attack.

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

3

Resistance To Impregnation

The timber is difficult to treat with preservatives.

Wood Physical Properties

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

0.48

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

0.53

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

6.6

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

3.4

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying: Air season is reported to be fairly rapid. Drying Defects: Risk of twisting and checking is reported. Kiln Schedules: Air seasoning is recommended before kiln drying.

Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule

JUNAC-A

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

2.0

Wood Chemical Properties

Wood Mechanical Properties

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

690

Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

77444

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

390

Workability

Sawing

Sawing of this species is easy.

Rotary Veneer Cutting

Light Copaifera species are reported to be interesting for peeling, the heavier species can be sliced.

Sliced Veneer

Light Copaifera species are reported to be interesting for peeling, the heavier species can be sliced.

Blunting Effect

It has a slight blunting effect on the cutting tools.

Machining

It is easy to machine.

Turning

30

Gluing

Trees of the Copaiba group are reported to have a high oil-resin content which can render gluing problems depending on the adhesive used.

Finishing

Copaifera is reported to yield a smooth finishing.

REFERENCED USES

End Uses Summary

HOUSING GENERAL, beams, joists, boards, fittings, shutter boards, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, TURNING, PACKING, heavy packing, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, door core, moldings, particleboard, cementboard

General Housing
  • 10 - Silica in Timbers
Beams
  • 11 - Prospect: The wood database
Joists
  • 12 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part I-Tropical American Species
Boards
  • 13 - Dry kiln schedules for commercial woods. Temperate and tropical. Section III. Latin American (Mexico, Central, and South America) Woods–Conventional Temperatures
Fittings
  • 19 - Silica in Timbers
Shutter Boards
  • 20 - Prospect: The wood database
Furniture Cabinets
  • 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Panels, Veneers
  • 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Turning
  • 30 - Embassy of Honduras in Japan
Packing
  • 45 - Recopilación y Análisis de Estudios Tecnológicos de Maderas Peruanas
Heavy Packing
  • 47 - Arvores Brasileiras
Door Cores
  • 76 - Descripción General y Anatómica de 105 Maderas del Grupo Andino.
Molding
  • 79 - Padronização da Nomenclatura Comercial Brasileira das Madeiras Tropicais Amazônicas, Sugestão
Particleboard
  • 80 - Estudio Integral de la Madera para Construcción
Cementboard
  • 81 - Madeiras da Amazônia: descrição do lenho de 40 espécies ocorrentes na Floresta Nacional do Tapajós

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