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The Ipe is one of the species of the genus Tabebuia, belonging to the botanical Bignoniaceae, which
means - thick bark tree.
The tree of Ipe is high and can reach 30 m in height. In addition to being much appreciated by the quality of its wood it is used for ornamental and decorative purposes.
It is a tree originating from the Cerrado, does not need much water, is well-crowned and at the time of flowering totally loses the leaves to give way to flowers of varied colours, which are at the origin of the different names of the wood of Ipe.
It blooms in the period from July to September and fruits from September to October.
Characteristics:
Heartwood - Brown color with greenish reflection;
Grain - The grain is straight and the texture is coars;
Density/Hardness - High, hard and heavywood;
Durability - Highly resistant to fungi and insects.
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Dipteryx odorata (commonly known as "cumaru" or "kumaru") is a species of flowering tree in the pea
family, Fabaceae. The tree is native to Central America and northern South America. Its seeds are known as tonka beans (sometimes tonkin beans or tonquin beans). They are black and wrinkled and have a smooth brown interior. They have a strong fragrance similar to sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) due to their high content of coumarin though it is sometimes referred to as Brazilian Teak as well: primarily when used as hardwood.
The tree grows up to 25–30 meters, with a trunk of up to one meter in diameter. The tree bark is smooth and gray, whereas the wood is red. The tree has alternate pinnate leaves with three to six leaflets, leathery, glossy and dark green, and pink flowers.
Cumaru has a faint, vanilla or cinnamon-like odor when being worked.
Characteristics:
Heartwood - tends to be a medium to dark brown
sometimes with a reddish or purplish hue;
Grain - Grain is interlocked, with a medium
texture and a waxy feel;
Density / Hardness - High, hard and heavy wood;
Durability - Highly resistant to fungi and insects.
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Apoleya leiocarpa (commonly known as "garapa" or "garapeira") is a species of arboreal flowering plant, a member of the family Fabaceae. It is endemic to Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
It has a flattened, wide, dense crown.
It reaches 25–40 m in height, with a slightly tortuous and very long trunk, with fins at the base.
Garapa has a golden to yellowish brown color, which darkens with age. The wood is fairly chatoyant, and appears to shift from dark to light coloring in different lighting angles.
Characteristics:
Heartwood - tends to be light yellow to brown-yellow;
Grain - Grain is usually straight, but can also be interlocked. Uniform medium texture with a moderate amount of natural luster.;
Density / Hardness - Medium density
Durability - Good durability with medium-high fungi and insects.