| Jatobá | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Hymenaea courbaril L. | ||||||||||||||||||
Jatobá (Hymenaea courbaril), is a tree common to the Caribbean, Central, and South America and Brazil. It is a hardwood that is used for furniture, flooring and decorative purposes.
Although Jatoba is sometimes referred to as Brazilian or South American Cherry, it is not a cherry tree and it is in no way, botanically or otherwise related to Black Cherry (prunus serotina), a very common American hardwood. Jatoba is also know as South American Locust, stinking toe (because of the smell of it's seed pods), Brazilian copal and various other names.
Jatoba produces an orange, resinous, sticky gum that converts to Amber through a remarkable chemical process that requires millions of years. Amber of million-year-old Hymenaea trees have provided scientists with many clues to its prehistoric presence on earth as well as to the insects and other plants encased in it. (As shown in the Jurassic Park movies)
Jatoba is a very hard wood measuring 5.6 on the Brinell scale or 2350 lbf on the Janka scale, approximate measurements of hardness. For comparison, Douglas Fir measures 660 lbf, White Oak 1360 lbf, and Brazilian Walnut 3800 lbf on the Janka scale.
Jatoba features a tan/salmon color with black accent stripes that over time turns to a deep rich red color. Hardness rating: 2350