Carapa guianensis
Specifications
Family
Meliaceae
Species
Carapa guianensis Aubl.
crabwood
Description
The sapwood is grayish or pinkish, sometimes with brown variegations; the heartwood is brown or red, darkening with exposure to air. The texture is medium, the grain straight or slightly interwoven, and the density ranges from 0.54 to 0.87. Drying must be done slowly to avoid cracking; working is difficult due to the high silica content, which damages the blades.
Plant morphology
A large tree, 20–30 m tall, with a cylindrical trunk 50–120 cm in diameter, a broad, ellipsoid crown, and layered bark with barely visible fissures. The leaves are compound and very large, ranging from 80–120 cm. The inflorescences are axillary, in terminal racemes with small flowers. The fruit is a large, globose berry containing 5–7 seeds.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Central and South America: Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana and Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela; it is present in Indonesia following importation.
Habitat and ecology
It grows in lowland tropical forests, whether evergreen or semi-deciduous, particularly in areas with annual precipitation exceeding 3000 mm. It is common near waterways or in humid or periodically flooded areas, but can also reach semi-hilly areas. Pollination of this species is entrusted to insects such as bees, beetles, and moths, while seed dispersal occurs by rodents.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It is used for boat structures not exposed to the elements, for furniture, interior furnishings and veneers.
Threats and Conservation
Threats
Overexploitation as a source of timber and oil.
Conservation measures
The species is currently included in the Cuban Red List (Gonzalez Torres et al., 2016). Some specimens are preserved in 12 ex situ collections (BGCI 2017).
IUCN Red List
IUCN
LC - Least Concern - Low Risk
CITES. Year of assessment
CITES
2017
1975
2050
CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento
2017
Not present.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Obvious
Texture
Medium
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
670
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
48
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
77
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
102
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
14530
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Moderatamente durabile
Insect resistance
Not resistant