Wood Information
Jatoba   -  Hymenaea courbaril;  Family: Leguminosae     
                     
Common Names: Cuapinol, Guapinol (Mexico), Guapinol (Central America), Locust,
Kawanari (Guyana), Rode lokus (Surinam), Algarrobo (Spanish America), Jatahy, Jatoba
(Brazil).
Distribution: Southern Mexico, throughout Central America and the West Indies to
northern Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru.  The tree's best development is on ridges or slopes and
high riverbanks.
Tree:  May grow to a height of 130 ft with trunk diameters of 5 to 6 ft; usually less than 100
ft high with diameters of 2 to 4 ft.  Boles are well formed, often clear for 40 to 80 ft, and
basally swollen or buttressed in large trees.
Wood: Heartwood is salmon red to orange brown when fresh, becoming russet to reddish
brown when seasoned; often marked with dark streaks.  Sapwood is usually wide; white,
gray, or pinkish.  Texture is medium to rather coarse; grain mostly interlocked; golden
luster; without distinctive odor or taste.
Properties: The wood is moderately difficult to saw and machine largely because of its
high density, but except in planing it can be machined to a smooth surface.  The wood is
somewhat difficult to plane because of the interlocked grain. It is easy to glue and finish
satisfactorily; steam-bending properties comparable to white oak. The wood is quite
durable, resistant to rot and variable resistance to insects.
Uses: Tool handles and other applications where good shock resistance is needed,
steam-bent parts, flooring, turnery, furniture and cabinet work, railroad crossties tree-nails,
gear cogs, wheel rims, and other specialty items.  Tree exudes a rosin-like gum known
commercially as South American copal.  Seed pods contain an edible pulp.
Harding Pens and Woodturnings