
Lapacho (Tabebuia serratifolia)
Family: Bignoniaceae
Common names: Acapro, Akkeja, Akkekeja, Ala-onni, Ala-ore, Alahorre, Alan-che, Alcapro, Alumbre, Amapa, Amapa prieta, Amapa priete, Amapa prieto, Aoka, Arabore, Araguaney, Arahoni, Aravaney, Arawnig, Arawnig-yek, Arco, Arcwood, Arowore, Arra-ore, Arrhonee, Aruain, Bastard lignum vitae, Bethabara, Bois d'ebene verte, Bois d'evilasse, Bow wood, Bow-wood, Caexeta, Canada, Canaguate, Canahuate, Chicala, Cogwood, Coralibe, Cortes, Cortes amarillo, Cortez, Cortez amarillo, Cortez colorado, Cortez de venado, Corteza, Cort Courali, Curari, Curarire, Ebano verde, Ebene soufre, Ebene vert, Ebene verte, Echahumo, Enbotta-koenatjepre, Flor amarillo, Greenheart, Grenhatti, Grienharti, Groenhart, Groenhati, Guayacan, Guayacan polvillo, Gupariba, Hackia, Hackoyia, Haekia, Hahuache, Hakia, Hakkea, Ijzerhout, Ipe, Ipe amarillo, Ipe cascudo, Ipe de varzea, Ipe do compo, Ipe folhas roxas, Ipe jabotica, Ipe preto, Ipe roxo, Ipe tabaco, Ipe una, Irontree, Ironwood, Konawadranup, Lapachillo tally, Lapacho, Lapacho amarillo, Lapacho blanco, Lapacho crespo, Lapacho negro, Lapacho rosa, Lignum vitae, Lubre, Madera negra, Makagrien, Makka groenhart, Mangienhatti, Mano de leon, Masicaran, Noibwood, Pao d'arco, Pao d'arco amarillo, Pao d'arco roxo, Pau d'Arco, Pau darco, Penda, Polvillo, Poui, Pui, Quebracho, Quiarapaiba, Ranoi, Roble, Roble cinero, Surinam greenheart, Tabebuia, Tahua, Tahuari, Tamura tuira, Tauary, Taye, Tayi, Urupariba, Verdecillo, Washiba, Wasiba, Wasieba, Wassiba, Wehete, Whoua-whoua, Woile, Xha-hua-che, Yellow guayacan, Yellow poui
Distributed in: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela (Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: Distributed widely from Colombia to Bolivia, the Guianas, and southeastern Brazil. It is descrbed as ecologically diverse, especially in the Brazilian mata atlantica. It occurs mostly in more or less seasonal forests on well-drained lateritic soils in the Amazons, but also grows on richer or sandy soils and even into the cerrado in sub-Amazonian Brazil. The tree is usually found near sea level up to an elevation of 3940 feet (1200 m).
Common uses: Agricultural implements, Barge fenders, Bearings & bushings, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Cooperages, Crossties, Decks, Decorative veneer, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Figured veneer, Fishing rods, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture, Handles, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Naval architecture, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Raft floats, Rafts, Railroad ties, Shade rollers, Shafts/Handles, Shakes, Sheathing, Shingles, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Walking sticks
Product sources: The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber. The timber is exported regularly. The wood is imported from Brazil into Italy, Argentina, United States, Barbados, and Venezuela.
Environment profile: Widespread
Tree size: Tree height is 30-40 m
Colors: the heart isReddish brown, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Whitish.The grain isVariable figure, the textureResinous and oilyand the lusterSlightly lustrous
Natural durability: Susceptible to marine borer attack, Very durable
Odor: No specific smell or taste
Kiln Schedules: UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6
Kiln Drying Rate: Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm)
Drying Defects: Slight twist/warp, Splitting
Ease of Drying: Fairly Easy
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good Similar in properties to Tabebuis guajacan from Honduras and T.heterotricha from Panama
Blunting Effect: Moderate
Boring: Moderately easy
Carving: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Cutting Resistance: Very difficult
Gluing: Surface preperation improves gluing
Mortising: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Moulding: Reduction of cutting angle of 15 degrees is recommended
Movement in Service: Reduction of cutting angle of 15 degrees is recommended
Nailing: Poor to Very Poor , Possible if prebored
Planing: Reduction of cutting angle recommended
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable
Response to hand tools: Responds Readily
Routing recessing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Sanding: Easy to sand
Veneering qualities: Suitable for slicing, Yeild highly decorative veneers
Steam bending: Poor
Screwing: Good screw holding properties, Possible if prebored; Turning: Turns with moderate ease
Painting: Surface preparation may imporve; Polishing: Surface Preparation; Staining: Surface Preparation; Varnishing: Powdery deposits make varnishing difficult
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- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
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 |
 |
 |
| Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
| Specific Gravity |
0,9 |
1,04 |
|
| Density |
|
945 |
kg/m3 |
| Bending Strength |
1415 |
1818 |
kg/cm2 |
| Crushing Strength |
697 |
928 |
kg/cm2 |
| Hardness |
|
1515 |
kg |
| Impact Strength |
|
|
cm |
| Shearing Strength |
|
168 |
kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness |
190 |
212 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
| Tangential Shrinkage |
7 |
|
% |
| Radial Shrinkage |
5 |
|
% |
| Weight |
929 |
833 |
kg/m3 |
| Maximum Load |
1,47 |
1,47 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
| Toughness |
|
|
cm-kg |
| Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | | Item | Green | Dry | English | | Bending Strength | 20137 | 25864 | psi | | Density | | 59 | lbs/ft3 | | Hardness | | 3342 | lbs | | Maximum Crushing Strength | 9920 | 13203 | psi | | Shearing Strength | | 2396 | psi | | Stiffness | 2708 | 3028 | 1000 psi | | Work to Maximum Load | 21 | 21 | inch-lbs/in3 | | Specific Gravity | 0.9 | 1.04 | | | Weight | 58 | 52 | lbs/ft3 | | Radial Shrinkage | 5 | | % | | Tangential Shrinkage | 7 | | % | | Volumetric Shrinkage | 13 | | % | |
Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Max. crushing strength = very high Density (dry weight) = >75 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Very hard Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high May require special tools to process Density = very high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium
The species is considerably stronger than White oak or Teak.The weight is exceptionally high, even in the seasoned condition. It is much heavier than Teak or White oak
Andy Poynter. 1993. Personal CommunicationBanks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers - The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building ResearchBodig, J. and B. A. Jayne. 1982. Mechanics of Wood and Wood Composites. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York.Brooks, R.L., et al,1941,Durability tests on Untreated Timbers in Trinidad,Caribbean Forester,2(3,pp101-119Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet SeriesChichignoud, M., G. Deon, P. Detienne, B. Parant and P. Vantomme.1990.Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America.International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne, CEDEX, France.Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. LondonEdmondson, C.H.,1949,Reaction of Woods from S.America and Caribbean areas to Marine Borers in,Hawaiian Waters,Caribbean Foresters,10(1,PP37-41Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry DepartmentFanshawe, D.B.,1954,Forest Products of British Guiana Part 1 Principal Timbers,Forest Department British Guiana Forestry Bulletin (New Series 2nd,Edition,No.1Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.Lavers, G.M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207Marshall, R.C.,1939,Silviculture of the trees of Trinidad and Tobago - British West Indies,O.U.P.,LondonPolak, A.M.,1992,Major Timber Trees of Guyana A Field Guide,The Tropenbos Foundation Wageningen, The NetherlandsRecord, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1940,American Woods of the Family Bignoniaceae,Tropical Woods,8(63,pp 9-38Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University PressRecord, S.J., Mell, C.D.,1924,Timbers of Tropical America,Yale Univ. PressSurinam Forest Service,1952,Surinam Timber - A Summary with brief descriptions of the main timber,species of Surinam,Surinam Forest ServiceTakahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4Teixeira, D. E., M. A. E. Santana and M. Rabelo de Souza.1988. Amazonian Timbers for the International Market.ITTO Technical Series 1.Brazilian Institute for Forestry Development, Brazil.U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72Vazquez, I. 1991. Puy - Tabebuia serratifolia (Vahl) Nicholson. Serie Maderas Comerciales de Venezuela, Ficha Tecnica No. 24. Instituto Forestal Latinoamericano, Merida, Venezuela, Marzo, 1991.Vink, A.T.,1965,Surinam Timbers,Surinam Forest Service Paramaribo,3rd rev. ed.Wangaard, F.F., et al,1954,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 4,Tropical Woods,14(99, pp1-187WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World, World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Plants Programme, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.
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