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LOURO (Ocotea cymbarum)

Trade Name

Louro

Scientific Name

Ocotea cymbarum Kunth

Family

LAURACEAE

Common Names

Louro-Mamorim (Brazil); Louro-Japura (Brazil); Louro-Inamuí (Brazil); Louro-Imbaúba (Brazil); Louro-Gamela (Brazil); Louro-Consuelo (Brazil); Louro-Amarelo (Brazil); Louro (Brazil)

Scientific Name Synonyms

Ocotea barcellensis (Meisn.) Mez; Nectandra barcellensis Meisn.; Misanteca cymbarum (Kunth) Lundell; Licaria cymbarum (Kunth) Pittier

Description Of The Tree

Botanical Description

O. cymbarum is a big tree, it is reported to reach total heights of 20 to 30 m.

Natural Habitat

O. cymbarum is found in the Amazonian forest, in the varzea areas. The species occurs on the official list of threatened Brazilian plants compiled by IBAMA. Vulnerable(IBAMA,2001)

Natural Distribution

In Brazil it is reported in the basin of the rivers Negro and Solimoes, in Parana do Careiro and Maues.

Wood Identification

Anatomic Description Of Wood

Tyloses common. Vessel-ray pits larger than the intervessel pits. Intervessel pits large, 10 micras or more. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Occasionally heterogeneous rays and/or multiseriate heterogeneous rays. Oil and/or mucilage cells associated with the axial and/or ray parenchyma (idioblasts). Septate fibers present.

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

Availability

Cites Status

Unrestricted

General Wood Description

Odor

This species has a distinct smell and taste, especially when freshly cut.

Color

The heartwood is yellowish and the sapwood is lighter in color, but not clearly different from the heartwood.

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

4

Grain

Straight or interlocked grain is common in this species.

Texture

This species is reported to have a medium to coarse texture.

Luster

Luster is generally moderate to high.

Wood Physical Properties

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

0.66

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

0.74

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

8.1

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

3.9

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying: Drying is reported to be easy.

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

2.1

Wood Chemical Properties

Wood Mechanical Properties

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

1027

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

565

Workability

Sawing

Cutting resistance is generally low.

Planing

Planing is reported to be easy.

Sanding

Sanding of this species is reportedly easy.

REFERENCED USES

End Uses Summary

HOUSING GENERAL, boards, PLYWOOD AND VENEER

General Housing
  • 10 - Silica in Timbers
Boards
  • 13 - Dry kiln schedules for commercial woods. Temperate and tropical. Section III. Latin American (Mexico, Central, and South America) Woods–Conventional Temperatures
Panels, Veneers
  • 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia

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