| | CITESwoodID: descriptions, illustrations, identification and information retrieval |
Nomenclature. Family: MELIACEAE. Synonym(s): Carapa nicaraguensis, Persoonia guareoides, Amapa guianensis, Xylocarpus carapa, Granatum nicaraguense, Guarea mucronulata. Further trade and local names: carapa rouge (FR, FG); carapa (GB, VE); crabwood (GB); cedro macho (CR); masabalo (CO, VE); figueroa, tangaré (EC); krappa (SR); camacari, yandiroba (BR); bateo (PA); crappo (TT); cedro bateo (CR, PA); bastard mahogany (HN). Code according to DIN EN 13556: CRGN.
CITES(EU) status of protection. Not protected.
Similar timbers. Easily mistaken for Swietenia spp. (CITES II).
Geographic distribution. Mexico and Central America, Caribbean, and tropical South America.
Growth rings, colour, grain, etc. Growth ring boundaries distinct (demarcated by marginal parenchyma bands). Heartwood basically brown, red (pale reddish brown, darkening upon exposure); without streaks. Sapwood distinct from heartwood colour (in green timber not always distinct). Wood of medium weight (0.50–0.55–0.65 g/cm³). Interlocked grain present.
Hardwood vs softwood. Vessels (pores) present (= hardwood).
Vessels (pores). Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels (pores) in multiples; commonly in short (2–3 vessels) radial rows (occasionally also in longer radial chains and small clusters). Vessels large (130–175–230 µm); very few, or few (7–11–16). Tyloses absent. Other deposits in heartwood vessels (pores) present (dark brown).
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma present; banded. Parenchyma bands exclusively marginal (or seemingly marginal); narrow. Contrary to Swietenia spp. the colour of the marginal bands is only slightly offset from the surrounding fibrous tissue. Other macroscopically visible types of axial parenchyma: vasicentric (hardly visible even with a lens).
Rays. Rays narrow. Large rays commonly less than 1 mm high.
Storied structure. Storied structure absent.
Resin canals. Normal resin canals absent (traumatic resin canals in tangential rows occasionally present).
Physical and chemical tests. Heartwood not fluorescent. Water extract not fluorescent; colour shade of water extract colourless to brown. Heartwood extractives leaching out when in contact with water (reddish brown). Ethanol extract not fluorescent; colour shade of ethanol extract colourless to brown. Splinter burns to partial ash; colour of ash white to grey.
Additional information. • Transverse section + wood surface. Carapa guianensis (Andiroba). Transverse section ca. 10x. Wood 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’.
