| Hardwood for indoor and outdoor floors, parquet, decking and other uses BALSAM (CABREUVA, ESTORAQUE) - CUMARU (SHIHUAHUACO) | Wood for furniture and other uses MAHOGANY - AMBURANA (ISHPINGO) |
|
PAU MULATO - CAPIRONA (PERÚ)
|
| Species : | Calycophyllum spruceanum (Benth) Hook |
| Family : | Rubiaceae |
| Synonym : | Eukylista spruceana Benth |
| Commun Names : | Perú: capirona, palo mulato. Bolivia: guayabochi, palo blanco. Argentina: ibira moroti. Brasil: pau mulato. Colombia: Capirona de altura, guayabete. Ecuador: capirona, corusicaa. Venezuela: araguato. |
| International Business Name : |
Pau mulato. |
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPECIES
Geographical distribution: the distribution of this species was obtained from literature and herbal reports within the provinces of Amazonas, San Martin, Huanuco, Madre de Dios, Loreto and Ucayali, between 0 and 1000 mt (0 and 3280 feet) above sea level. The species grows in communities called "capironales". Average amounts can be found in the Peruvian Amazon.
The tree: 35 mt (115 feet) tall, 0,70 mt to 1,80 mt (28 to 71 inches) diameter around the chest. Cylinder-like straight timber trunk. Outer bark is greenish-brown, which, if loosen in coriacean layers, exposes a grayish-white trunk; therefore it is also known as "mulatto stick".
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WOOD
Color: When freshly cut, sapwood, (albunum) is cremay white and hardwood. (duramen) is grayish white, light brown streaks. Little contrast between both layers. When dried in open air, laburnum turns white HUE 8/2 2.5Y and duramen turns yellow HUE8/610YR. (Munsell Soil Color Charts).
| Fragrance: | Non-distinctive |
| Shine or gloss: | Medium |
| Grain: | Straight and slightly interbred |
| Texture: | Delicate |
| Streaks or patterns: | Thin, weak streaks, parallel bands. |
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Physical Properties
| Primary density : | 0,76 gr/cm3 |
| Tangencial contraction : | 9,00 % |
| Radial contraction : | 5,00 % |
| Volumetric contraction : | 15,00 % |
| T/R Ratio : | 2,30 |
Mechanical Properties
| Module of elasticity in flexion : | 100 000 kg/cm 2 |
| Module of breakage in flexion : | 273 kg/cm 2 |
| Parallel compression (RM) : | 283 kg/cm 2 |
| Perpendicular compression (ELP) : | 67 kg/cm 2 |
| Grain-parallel cut : | 87 kg/cm 2 |
| Hardness on the sides : | 425 kg/cm 2 |
| Firmness (Resistence to impact) : | 2,00 kg - m |
TECHNICAL ADVICE
Capirona is a very heavy type of Wood which shows low linear shrinkage and moderately stable volumetric shrinkage. Mechanical resistance is between medial and high ranks. Wood is moderately easy to saw. Good workability. Average performance if artificially dried, requires mild setting to avoid risk of cracking. Good resistance to biological attack, no need of preservation. Long-lasting wood, specially when in elements out of the reach of the ground. Tortorelli addresses is as a substitute of Casearia praecox "boxwood".
USES
Wood can be used in floors, floor tiles, holding , Wood stacks, naval construction, heavy structures poles, coach building, sports gear like tennis and ping-pong rackets, tool handles.
