Tauari | go back to lumber list

Species Couratari guianensis 
 
Environmental Profile This species is reported to be relatively secure within its natural habitat in most areas in  its range, including Panama. Its status in the wild is currently listed as unknown because of  insufficient information in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam, and Venezuela (Source - World Conservation Monitoring Center - 1992 ). 
The species is reported to be demonstrably widespread, abundant, and secure globally, although it may be quite 
rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery  (Source - The Nature Conservancy - Rank of relative 
endangerment based mainly on the number of occurrences of the species worldwide). 
Distribution The species is reported to be found in the hill forests in Costa Rica, Panama, and adjacent 
Colombia, as well as in forests of diverse types from Venezuela and the Guianas to Amazonian Brazil. 
Product Sources The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) reports that the species is an 
important source of timber. The timber is reported to be exported in low quantities. 
 
Common Names : Capa de tabaco, Coco cabuyo, Congolo garapelo, Couatari, Imbirema, Ingiepipa, Ingipipa, Inguipipa, Mahot, Mahot cigare, Tabari, Tampipio, Tauari, Tauary, Wadara 
 
Regions of Origin : Central America, Latin America. 
 
Countries of Origin :  French Guiana, Guyana, Brazil, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Suriname, Costa Rica 
 
Tree Data Couratari trees are reported to attain heights of up to 120 feet (37 m). They usually develop stout 
buttresses, with trunk diameters of 36 to 48 inches (90 to 120 cm). 
Heartwood Color The heartwood is cream or cream white in color, with a pinkish or yellowish tinge. The heartwood and sapwood are not distinct. 
Grain The grain is straight or uniformly interlocked. The material is reported to exhibit a fine but faintly 
visible silver figure. 
Texture The texture is generally coarse to medium. 
Odor Some species of the Couratari genus are reported to possess a fetid odor. 
Natural Durability The material is reported to have very little or negligible natural resistance to decay, and is 
susceptible to attack by termites and dry wood insects. 
Resistance to Impregnation The heartwood and sapwood are reported to absorb preservatives readily in both pressure and open tank systems. 
Silica Content Silica levels of 0.8% (ovendry weight) have been reported in some Couratari timbers. Silica 
level of 0.05% is generally believed to be enough to affect the machining properties of wood. 
Strength Properties Bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) is high - 
comparable to Teak. Strength in compression parallel to grain is in the high range. Other species in this range 
include Teak, White oak, and Hard maple. It is heavy. The wood has high density. 
Blunting Effect The wood is reported to exert moderate to high blunting effect on cutters due to high silica  content. 
Carving The material is rated as fair to good in all machining operations. 
Cutting Resistance Some Couratari species contain high amounts of silica which may affect sawing. 
Gluing The wood is reported to have good gluing characteristics. 
Luster The luster is reported to vary from low to high. 
Nailing The timber holds nails moderately well. 
Planing The material is rated as fair to good in all machining operations, including planing. It is reported 
to respond fairly well to most tools, but specially-tipped cutters may be required in some Couratari timbers which contain high amounts of silica. 
Polishing The wood is reported to finish well. 
Ease of Drying The wood dries at a moderate rate, with little degrade. 
Drying Defects The wood shows a slight tendency to check and warp during drying. 
T/R Ratio 1.78 
This ratio is more meaningful if it is used together with actual shrinkage data in the tangential and radial 
directions. (Refer to the Numerical Values window)