TAUARI (Couratari stellata)
Trade Name
Tauari
Scientific Name
Couratari stellata A.C. Sm.
Family
LECYTHIDACEAE
Common Names
Tauari (Brazil); Mahot; Estopeiro (Brazil); Tauari Morrão (Brazil); Tauari Amarelo (Brazil); Imbirema (Brazil)
Scientific Name Synonyms
Couratari reticulata A.C. Sm.
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The commercial lengths are reported to vary from 7 to 18 m, with diameters from 45 to 70 cm. The logs are reported to be straight and cylindrical.
Natural Distribution
The Couratari genus is reported to be widely distributed all over tropical South America.
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 Axial parenchyma in continuous tangential lines (included in reticulate and scalariform). 5 to 8 cells per parenchyma strand. Axial parenchyma in narrow bands on lines up to 3 cells wide. Axial parenchyma bands over 4 per mm. 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Rays 1 to 4 seriate. Silica bodies in the ray cells. Homogeneous rays and/or sub-homogeneous rays (all ray cells procumbent). Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
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Wood Macro Photo Tangential Plane
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Wood Micro Photo Of Transversal Section
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
There is no difference between sapwood and heartwood. The timber is light yellowish brown in color.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
6
Grain
This species is reported to have straight grain.
Texture
The wood is mostly medium in texture.
Luster
The wood surface is described as low in luster.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
4
Resistance To Impregnation
C. stellata is reported to be moderately permeable, with good penetration and retention of preservatives.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.65
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.72
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
7.8
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
5.8
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Air seasoning is reported to be rapid. Drying Defects: Slight checking and warping. Kiln Schedules: Slow drying is recommended.
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.3
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
1367
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
146000
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
705
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
118
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
131
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
710
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
895
Workability
Sawing
Sawing operations are rated as fair to difficult.
Planing
Planing operations are rated as fair, but it yields smooth surfaces.
Turning
30
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, Decorative veneer, TURNING, cutlery, BENDING, SPORTS, table tennis, TOOLS, tool handles, PACKING, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, handicrafts
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Furniture Cabinets
- 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
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
Knife Handles
- 33 - Embassy of Gabon in Japan
Bending
- 35 - Embassy of Myanmar in Japan
Sports
- 38 - Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation 1998-ITTO
- 41 - Embassy of the Philippines
Tools
- 42 - Utilización Industrial de Nuevas Especies Forestales en el Perú.
Tool Handles
- 43 - Maderas de Bolivia (Características y Usos de 55 Maderas Tropicales)
Packing
- 45 - Recopilación y Análisis de Estudios Tecnológicos de Maderas Peruanas
Shipbuilding
- 55 - Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America
Other & Musical Instruments
- 63 - Madeiras do Brazil II
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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