Botanically, the Peruvian pear tree(Aspidosperma cylindrocarpon) belongs to the Apocynaceae family. The tree species and is related to Peroba rosa, a Brazilian species of the same genus. The distribution is limited to the humid forests of Peru, where the tree is relatively common.
The heartwood has a light brown to pinkish red color, reminiscent of European pear. The sapwood is light yellow and clearly set off from the heartwood. The wood is fine-pored, the grain is straight, the overall appearance is simple, but a decorative precious wood.
The density at 12% wood moisture is 0.76 t/m3 on average. The wood has low shrinkage, is excellent for machining (planing, milling, polishing) and has good durability. Peruvian pear wood is extremely dense and hard due to its fine pores.
The Brinell hardness is 38, but the modulus of elasticity has a low value and is only 9,800 N/mm2.
The weather resistance is unsatisfactory, so the wood is primarily used indoors.
Furniture construction, parquet for high demands, veneers, woodturning.
European pear tree, service tree and others
| References: |
2-layer parquet, residential building in Frankfurt Parquet, Oberursel property |
| Sources: |
GOTTWALD (1970) Wood identification of the most important commercial timbers ITTO (1990) Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America |
