Occurrence: Brazilian cherry growth range is reported to include Cape Verde Islands, throughout West Indies from Cuba and Jamaica to Trinidad and Tobago. Also from central Mexico to Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and French Guiana, Columbia, Surinam.
Characteristics
of the Wood: Brazilian cherry is a very beautiful wood;
with remarkable hardness make it extremely popular and appealing wood.
Sapwood is white, gray, or pinkish in color and is clearly demarcated
from the heartwood. It is reported to be similar to Maple in appearance.
Heartwood of the freshly-cut heartwood runs from salmon-red to orange-brown.
It darkens into a russet to reddish-brown color after drying, and it is
frequently marked with dark streaks.
Grain is mostly interlocked.
Natural Durability: The
heartwood is reported to be moderately durable, with only moderate resistance
to attack by both brown-rot and white-rot fungi. The heartwood is rated
as very resistant to dry-wood termites but it is not totally immune from
attack by marine borers.
Treat ability: difficult due to low permeability.
Processing Characteristics: Productivity in Mill: 50.60%
Surfacing: moderately easy Shaping: hard
Fixing: moderately easy Gluing: moderately easy
Finishing: good
Drying: fast with defects
Uses:
Brazilian Cherry is prized for its pleasing color, beauty and durability.
It is used in fine furniture and cabinetry, flooring, stair treads, parquet,
architectural details, shipbuilding, joinery and turnery.