Curupau

Names and distribution:

The three South American wood species Curupau/Cebil(Anadenanthea spp.), Cuchi(Astronium urundeuva) and Satiné/Muirapiranga(Brosimum paraense) belong to the group of legumes. Their natural distribution stretches from the Amazon basin in Brazil via Mato Grosso to Bolivia, Paraguay and northern Argentina. They are well to very well represented there.

Wooden picture:

The heartwood has a red to red-brown basic color with occasional dark stripes. Freshly cut wood is light in color, but darkens quickly when exposed to sunlight and becomes an even reddish brown. The pores are fine, scattered and surrounded by a ring of parenchyma. The grain is often even, alternating twisted growth can occur, overall plain, moderately decorative.

Properties:

Density at 12% wood moisture content is approx. 1.05 ^t/m3. In the case of Curupau, there is a volume shrinkage of 12.7% from fresh juice to 12% residual moisture. The tangential shrinkage is specified as 8.4%, the radial shrinkage as 4.2%. The values for Cuchi and Satiné are lower. Drying must be slow according to the high density. Due to the high density, cracks cannot be ruled out at the front and on the surface. The wood is extremely hard and can only be worked with increased force. Smooth surfaces can be achieved in particular if the grain is straight. Overall, the woods are easy to turn and polish, creating decorative surfaces.
The modulus of elasticity is given as 19,200 ^N/mm2 and the bending stiffness as 167 ^N/mm2. The three types of wood are weather-resistant (resistance class 1-2) and can be equated with robinia wood. Tendency to bleed when fresh: low.
Long-term development outdoors: without UV-absorbing protective treatment, the wood will turn gray just like brown or beige-colored wood. With appropriate treatment, a reddish-brown base tone can be achieved.

Use:

Construction timber in gardening and landscaping, parquet, woodturning.

Replaced:

Bongossi, Bangkirai, etc.

References:	Extension at the Waldorf School Frankfurt Private house Bad Vilbel
Sources:	GOTTWALD (1970) Wood identification of the most important commercial timbers ITTO (1990) Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America Centro Amazónico de Desarrollo Forestal (2001) Wood species: Curupau

Note: according to the latest findings, but excluding any liability

Picture 1: From left to right:
Curupau fresh, curupau matured,
Image 2: In comparison: Cuchi and Satiné

References:

Waldorf School Frankfurt am Main

Extension (“Freisitz”) to the library of the Freie Waldorfschule Frankfurt.
Realization 10/04Type of wood: Robinia/ Curupau as decking.
Tatajuba as vertical cladding.