Brosimum guianense

Specifications

Family

Moraceae

Species

Brosimum guianense Huber ex Ducke

Common name

Brosimum guianense
Commonly known as

snakewood

letterwood

leoparwood

Description

Red-brown in color with striking black spots, hard and difficult to work, it is one of the rarest and most expensive woods in the world.

Plant morphology

It is a small tree, no taller than 25 m, with a maximum diameter of 40 cm. The trunk is completely free of branches up to a height of at least 9–10 m.

Natural occurrence

Countries of origin and distribution

Central America: French Guiana, Brazil.

Habitat and ecology

Rainforests.

Uses

Application areas

It is used for sports equipment, carved or turned objects, carpentry, furniture and decorations.

Threats and Conservation

Threats

Excessive extraction due to the great demand for this wood.

Conservation measures

Not reported.

IUCN Red List IUCN

Not present.

CITES. Year of assessment CITES

CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento

Not present.

Technical data

Aesthetic characteristics

Grain

Obvious

Texture

Fine

Physical and mechanical properties

Density
ρ

1210 kg/m³

Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.

MPa

Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.

MPa

Bending strength
M.O.R.

195 MPa

Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.

23200 MPa

Durability characteristics

Fungal resistance

Very durable

Insect resistance

Resistant

Miscellaneous

A very rare plant, strangely not included in the Red List, it is present only with a few isolated specimens in its territories of origin.