Wamara – Ironwood – Coracao de Negro – Panacoco, Cocus exchange wood

Names and distribution: Botanically, Wamara(Swartzia panacoco, S. leiocalycina, S. benthamiana, S. prouacensis) belongs to the Fabaceae/Leguminosae. The species is related to Pau Rosa(Swartzia fistuloides), Africa and Katalox(Swartzia cubensis), Mexico. Over 30 species of the genus Swartzia are known. Wamara is found in the northern Amazon and in the lowland forests of Guyana. Common names are: Wamara, Guyana Rosewood, Coracao de negro, Panacoco, Bannia and Saboarana. The wood is also used as a substitute for cocus wood(Brya ebenus), also known as Jamaican Ebony, which is no longer available.

Wood appearance: The sapwood is cream-colored and clearly separated from the heartwood. Heartwood in freshly cut condition rich in variation, from black-brown to greenish ochre. Wood is homogeneous and fine-pored. Heartwood decorative.

Properties: The spec. weight is given as 1.10..1.30 t/cbm for a u=12%, the tangential shrinkage as 7.6% and the radial shrinkage as 6.3%. Drying must be slow and gentle, as Wamara, like other woods of the same density, tends to crack. The dimensional stability, on the other hand, is surprisingly good and quite comparable to rosewood. Wamara should only be machined with carbide-tipped tools. It can be polished very well; smooth surfaces are produced. Wamara is extremely hard, rigid and abrasion-resistant. The modulus of elasticity is specified between 24.4 GPa (USDA) and 31-33 GPa (CIRAD).

Uses: Due to its limited availability, it can only be used as a special wood, e.g. for fingerboards and bridges, wind instruments, turnery and bows.

Replaces: Cocus, ebony, grenadilla, etc.