| | CITESwoodID: descriptions, illustrations, identification and information retrieval |
Nomenclature. Family: BIGNONIACEAE. Other trade relevant species: the genus Tabebuia includes just over 70 species; the distribution of by far the largest number is limited to the Caribbean islands (mainly Cuba). The wood of these species is limited to local use. Only Tabebuia rosea, whose distribution extends from Mexico to the south of tropical South America, is of economic importance and traded regularly. The wood of this species is described below as an example. Synonym(s): Tabebuia rosea: Couralia rosea, Sparattosperma roseum, Tabebuia mexicana, T. pentaphylla var. leucoxylon, T. punctatissima, Tecoma mexicana, T. punctatissima, T. rosea. Further trade and local names: Amapola, apamate, mococe, roble blanco, rosa morada (MX); roble, roble Sabanero (CO); apamate, acapro, araguaney, orum, roble venezolano (VE); tajibo (BO); cambora, ipê rosa, taipoca (BR); roble de Guayaquil (EC); mano de León (GT); roble de sabana (CR); poui (TT); mayflower (GB); witte roble (NL); "white cedar" (trade). Code according to DIN EN 13556: none.
CITES(EU) status of protection. Listed in Annex II(B).
Geographic distribution. Mexico and Central America to tropical South America. Mexico, Cuba, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, to Bolivia.
Growth rings, colour, grain, etc. Growth ring boundaries indistinct or absent. Heartwood basically brown (light to pinkish brown). Sapwood similar to heartwood colour, or distinct from heartwood colour (yellowish brown to pink, gradual transition to heartwood). Wood of medium weight (0,50–0,60–0,70 g/cm3). Interlocked grain present (but only weakly pronounced), or absent.
Hardwood vs softwood. Vessels (pores) present (= hardwood).
Vessels (pores). Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels (pores) in multiples; commonly in short (2–3 vessels) radial rows. Vessels medium to large ((65–)130–180 µm); few ((4–)7–16). Tyloses absent. Other deposits in heartwood vessels (pores) absent.
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma present; banded, or not banded. Parenchyma bands not (only) marginal; narrow (marginal bands), or wide (intermediate, often wavy bands). Other macroscopically visible types of axial parenchyma: aliform lozenge type, aliform winged.
Rays. Rays narrow. Large rays commonly less than 1 mm high.
Storied structure. Storied structure present. Tiers regular (horizontal or slightly inclined), or irregular; 3–4 per axial millimetre.
Physical and chemical tests. Heartwood not fluorescent. Water extract not fluorescent; colour shade of water extract colourless to brown. Ethanol extract fluorescent (light blue); colour shade of ethanol extract colourless to brown. Froth test positive. Splinter burns to partial ash; colour of ash dark grey to almost black.
Additional information. • Transverse section + wood surface. Transverse section ca. 10x. radial surface, natural size. tangential surface, natural size.
The interactive key allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting specified attributes, summaries of attributes within groups of taxa, and geographical distribution.
Cite this publication as: ‘Richter, H.G., Gembruch, K., and Koch, G. 2014 onwards. CITESwoodID: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. In English, French, German, and Spanish. Version: 4th April 2023. www.delta-intkey.com’.
