English name: Jatoba
Latin name: Hymenaea cunrbaril L.
Family: Leguminosae
Other name(s): Brazilian Cherry
Features: Heartwood varies from a light orangish brown to a darker reddish brown, sometimes with contrasting darker grayish brown streaks. Color tends darken upon exposure to light. Sapwood is a light grayish yellow, clearly demarcated from the heartwood.
Trees and distribution: Large trees, up to 40 m, more than 0.85m in diameter, distributed in Columbia, Brazil, Guyana, Peru.
Material: Grain is typically interlocked, with a medium to coarse texture. Good natural luster. Jatoba is rated as being very durable in regards to rot resistance, and is also resistant to termites and most other insects. No characteristic odor.
Applications: Flooring, furniture, cabinetry, tool handles, shipbuilding, railroad ties, turned objects, and other small specialty items.
