|«*H 
 
 IN 
 
 FORE] • DiJ 
 
 Foil ^^\ig^ l-fi'-invj'-i-nrv^ 
 
 fT o, L>, nt of Agriculture 
 
 1952 
 
 IiBUIA, K.'EUIA, OR "BRAZILIAN WALNUT" 
 
 ihoobe porosa (llees and .art.) Med 
 dly: Lauiv.ce ue 
 
 By 
 
 ELOIJ" Rj TffYf Forost Products Technologist 
 [vision of Cilvicultural Relations 
 
 
 
 There are about 85 species of the genus l 3 hoebe < worae occur in the East 
 Indies, China, and Malaya, but most of then are found in tropical America 
 from the V/est Indies and southern Mexico southward through Central 
 America end the ..ndes to Vrgentina and Brazil. 
 
 The most important species is Phoebe porose (formerly known as Nectandra 
 ■p, and as Oreodarhnc oo rosa Jees) of southern Brazil (I, 11).- it 
 grows in the Arancaria forests of Parana and Canta Catharina, mostly at 
 altitudes of 2,500 to 1»,000 feet, and may form about 20 percent of the 
 stand (12) . The wood of P hoebe porosa is 'mown commercially as imbuia, 
 embuia, or "Brazilian walnut." 
 
 The Tree 
 
 Trees of the species P hoebe porosa grow to 150 feet in height and up to 
 
 6 feet or more in diameter. 
 
 1 
 
 "Maintained at Madison, Wis., in cooperation with the University of 
 
 Wisconsin. 
 
 2 
 
 "Underlined numbers in parentheses refer to the list of numbered 
 
 references at the end of the article. 
 Report No. Rl£2l+ ;riculture -kadis on 
 
They have evergreen leaves, but most of the old leaves are shed as the 
 
 new leaves appear. Cn the underside of the leaves, in the axils of the 
 
 veins, are little two-lipped pockets (domatia), which are inhabited by 
 minute insect parasites (10, 12 ) . 
 
 The Hood 
 
 Color 
 
 The color of the wood varies from yellowish to olive or rich chocolate 
 brown. It is said that material can be selected to match any shade 
 found in black walnut grown in the United States (12) . It is further 
 reported that the yellowish wood comes from young trees or trees grown 
 in sheltered places and the "black" form from older, isolated trees (5) . 
 
 Weight 
 
 The specific gravity of the air-dry wood is reported as 0.595 to O.76, 
 and the average weight as about k3 to ^7 pounds per cubic foot (5, 12) . 
 
 Mechanical Properties 
 
 Strength tests have been made at the Institute de Tecnologicas, Sao 
 Faulo, Brazil, but are reported^ in units not directly comparable to the 
 United States standard tests . 
 
 Figure, Grain, Texture, and Luster 
 
 The stock is mostly straight -grained, but curly and wavy grain may be 
 found. Some trees in exposed locations may have markedly contorted or 
 gnarled grain (5). The wood may be plain in color or markedly variegated 
 and has rather fine texture and a medium luster (12) . 
 
 Odor 
 
 The freshly cut wood has a spicy, cinnamon-like, resinous taste and scent, 
 which are generally lacking in dried material. 
 
 Durability 
 
 The wood is considered as durable locally. Railway ties are reported to 
 have lasted 10 to 20 years in service in Brazil. 
 
 3 
 
 -Institute de Tecnologicas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Bulletin No. 31 ♦ 19^5. 
 
 Report No. R1924 -2- 
 
Workabilit y 
 
 The wood is moderately hard and heavy and is considered easy to dry, to work, 
 and to glue* It takes a and has good dimensional stability w 
 
 manufactured. 
 
 A fine dust may arise during tl c saving of imbuia that is irritating to some 
 workmen and may cause temporary derimtitis (8, 12, lU ) . 
 
 Uses 
 
 Imbuia is used in both solid and veneer form. In Brazil, it is used for 
 high-grade flooring, furniture, interior trim, doors, pianos, radio cabinets, 
 and fixtures. P hoebe trees grow to sizes that permit the production of 
 thick plank for wood carving and material for table trusses and chair legs 
 (12). Imbuia has been recommended for gun stoclis (6). 
 
 As veneer, imbuia is rated highly in Europe for fine furniture and interior 
 work. It is marketed as: 1. Light, hell, or clr.ra — a yellowish brown 
 in various toner, wit:: BhadingS and stripes: 2. Dark, dunkel, or escura -- 
 a brown background with reddish-black markings; 3. Extra or optima -- the 
 finest qualify in brown and red-brown tones with wave and cloud effects (k) . 
 
 Cne species of Phoe be yields a violet-colored dye from saw-dust and bark. 
 This dye is specially prized for use on fine leather. 
 
 •d.y 
 
 The wood has been imparted into the United Ctaten in relatively small 
 amounts, as well as into ^arope. Local demands for it in Brazil are high, 
 restricting export. 
 
 Minute Stru : ture 
 
 Growth ring s. — Growth rings are usually distinct owing to differences in 
 density* 
 
 Po res .--The pores are small, barely visible, numerous, and uniformly dis- 
 tributed. 
 
 Tyloses . — Tyloses are lacking • 
 
 Vessel ? .--Vessels have simple perforations. 
 
 Kays . — The rays are very fine, mostly biseriate ( 10 ) . 
 
 Fibe rs , — The fibers are septate. 
 
 Oil c ells, — Oil cells occur in the rays, as well as in the parenchyma 
 strands (9, 10) . 
 
 Report No. 31924 -3- 
 
List of References 
 
 1. Allen, Caroline K. 
 
 19^5. Studies of the Lauraceae VI. Preliminary Survey of the 
 Mexican and Central American Species (Key). Jour. 
 Arnold Arboretum, Vol. 26, ilos. J>-k , pp. 2cO- } +34. 
 
 2. Brazilian Government Trade Bureau. 
 
 19^6. Timber in Brazil, p. 6. New York. 
 
 3. Chevalier, Aug. 
 
 1923. Sur 1' origine du bois d'imbuia du Bresil et sur la biologie 
 de l'arbre producteur, le Phoebe porosa Mez. de la 
 famille des Lauracees. Comptes Rendus des Seances de 
 l'Acaderaie des Sciences (Paris). Vol. lo7, p. 1153- 
 
 k. Eergert, P. 
 
 1931* Uses of Imbuj^a Veneers in Europe. Tropical Woods No. 26, 
 pp. 10-11 (Grades). 
 
 5. Hoehne, F. C. 
 
 1930. Araucarilandia. Sec. da Agr., Indus, e Cora, do Sstado de 
 
 Sao Paulo (Brazil). 132 pp. Illus. (Physical properties). 
 (Tropical Woods No. 23, pp. 27-26, 1931.) 
 
 6. Eorn, E. F. 
 
 1913. Properties and Uses of Some of the More Important Woods Grown 
 in Brazil. Forest Products Laboratory Report No. 83, 
 pp. 10-11. 
 
 7. Kribs, David A. 
 
 1950. Commercial Foreign Woods on the American Market. Pub. by 
 
 author, Dept. of Botany, State College, Pa. p. 80. Illus. 
 
 8. Lamb, G. N. 
 
 19^6. Inibuia. Wood Products, Vol. ^k, No. 3, p. 23. 
 
 9. Mi lane z, F. R. 
 
 1930. A estructura do lenho da embuia. Servico de Informacoes, 
 Min. da Agr. Ind. e Com. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 
 12 p-o. Illus. (Structure) (Tro-oical V/oods No. 23, 
 p. 29, 1930.) 
 
 10. Record, S. J. 
 
 1929. Walnut Woods - True and False. Tropical Woods No. 18, 
 pp. 4-29 (17-20). 
 
 11. _^ and Ness, R. U. 
 
 19^2. American Timbers of the Family Lauraceae. 
 Tropical Woods No. 69, pp. 7-33 (23-30). 
 
 Report No. R192i| -i|- 
 
12. Record, S, J. and Log:;, R. './. 
 
 19^3. Tlatoera of the Hew World, pp. 215-216, 
 
 Yale University , Rev Ihwen, Conn. 
 
 13. Tupper, W. W. 
 
 1927. A Comparative Study oi" Lauraceoua Woods, Aner, Jour« Bot #l 
 
 Vol. Ik, No. '), Tpv. 520-524, (Tropical Woods No, 13, 
 . 57-58). 
 
 14. U. S. rublic Health Cervine 
 
 1931, Public Health Reports, Vol. k6, Ho. 33, pp. 193%1 
 
 15. Woods, R, P. 
 
 19^9* Timbers of South America, p. 28. Timber Dev. Assn., Ltd., 
 London . 
 
 Report No. R1924 -5- 
 
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 
 
 3 1262 08924 2191