Common Names:   Amapa prieta Bastard lignum vitae Bethabara Canaguate Cortés Cortez Ebano verde Ebene vert Greenhart Guayacan Hakia Ipe Ironwood Lapacho Lapacho negro Pau d'Arco Polvillo Purchase Ipe

Mechanical Values

Environmental Profile
The species is reported to be rather widespread, abundant, and secure globally, although it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery (Source - The Nature Conservancy -Rank of relative endangerment based primarily on the number of occurrences of the species worldwide).

Distribution
The species is reported to be distributed widely from Colombia to Bolivia, the Guianas, and southeastern Brazil. It is descrbed as ecologically diverse, especially in the Brazilian mata atlantica. It is reported to occur 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).

Product Sources
It is currently unknown whether material from this species is available from sustainably managed, salvaged, recycled, or other environmentally responsible sources. 

The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) reports that the species is an important source of timber. The timber is reported to be exported regularly. The wood is imported from Brazil into Italy, Argentina, United States, Barbados, and Venezuela. 

Tree Data
The tree is described as medium-sized, attaining a height of 65 to 85 feet (20 to 25 m), with a trunk diameter of about 30 inches (75 cm). Boles are straight to somewhat slanted, and are often clear of branches to about two-thirds the total height of the tree.

Sapwood Color
The clearly distinct sapwood is yellowish white or whitish in color.

Heartwood Color
The heartwood is olive-brown in color, with lighter or darker streaks. The pores themselves will often appear as fine yellow dots, or as longitudinal lines. Wood surfaces are reported to be often covered with a yellow powder.

Grain
The grain is straight to very irregular.

Texture
Texture is fine to medium. The wood is reported to have an oily appearance.

Luster
Luster is low to medium.

Odor
There is no characteristic odor or taste.

Ease of Drying
The wood is reported to dry without too much difficulty, in spite of its high density.

Drying Defects
Slight warping, cupping, twisting, and end-surface checking may occur during drying. A slow kiln drying schedule is recommended.

Kiln Schedules
T3 - C1 (4/4) US
Schedule E (4/4) United Kingdom

Movement in Service
The timber is reported to have good dimensional stability and exhibits only small movement in use.

T/R Ratio
1.21
This indicator is more meaningful if it is used together with other drying information and actual shrinkage data in the tangential and radial directions. (Refer to the Numerical Values window).

Natural Durability
The heartwood is reported to be very resistant to decay and attack by termites. It is rated as resistant to attack by dry wood insects but susceptible to marine borer attack.

Resistance to Impregnation
The wood is reported to be highly impermeable to wood preservatives.

Toxic Constituents
The yellowish sawdust (Lapachol) from machining operations is reported to cause skin irritation in some individuals.

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on cutting edges is reported to be moderate.

Veneering Qualities
Logs are generally difficult to convert into veneers, they are reported to yield very decorative veneers. 

Cutting Resistance
The material is reported to be very difficult to saw. 

Planing
The material is reported to be fairly difficult to plane and work in most operations work. A reduced cutting angle of 15 degrees is recommended for best planing results.

Turning
The material is reported to work with some difficulty, but can be finished smoothly, except heavily interlocked material. Properties in turning, boring, and sanding are rated as good.

Moulding
A reduced cutting angle of 15 degrees is recommended for best moulding results.

Gluing
Surface preparation is usually required for best gluing results.

Nailing
The wood is hard and requires pre-boring.

Screwing
The wood has good screw-holding characteristics.

Sanding
The wood is reported to respond easily to sanding operations.

Polishing
Occasionally yellowish, powdery deposits of lapachol may interfere with polishing, but the wood generally polishes well.

Staining
The wood takes stain well.

Varnishing
Powdery deposits of lapacho may make varnishing difficult.

Painting
The wood is difficult to paint. Surface preparation to remove yellowish lapachol powder may improve painting qualities. 

Steam Bending
The wood is reported to be difficult to steam bend.

Response to Hand Tools
The material responds poorly to hand tools.

Strength Properties
The species is considerably stronger than White oak or Teak. It has exceptionally high bending strength qualities when air-dried. Strength qualities in compression parallel to grain are exceptionally high. It is very hard, and may require special tools to process. The weight is exceptionally high, even in the seasoned condition. It is much heavier than Teak or White oak. The density of the wood is very high. 

Comments
The timber is reported to be similar in properties to Tabebuia guajacan from Honduras and T. heterotricha from Panama.