Jacaranda copaia (Aubl.) D.Don, Jacaranda spp. (Copaia)
Nomenclature etc. BIGNONIACEAE. + Jacaranda acutifolia H.B.K., J. caroba C.DC., J. cuspidifolia Ktze., J. lasiogyne Bur. & K. Schum., J. micrantha Cham., J. mimosaefolia D. Don, J. rhombifolia G.F.W. Meyer, J. semiserrata Cham. Trade and local names: copaia (trade); gobaia, foeti-i (SME);, caroba, amchi ponga, arabisco; parapar (BR); tarco, jacaranda (RA); cupay, chingale; gualandai, gualanda±o (EC,PA).
Description based on: 5 specimens. Tree. Geographic distribution: tropical South America.
General. Heartwood basically white or grey (very light brown). Sapwood colour similar to heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity 0.3–0.52 g/cm³.
Vessels. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels in multiples, commonly short (2–3 vessels) radial rows. Average tangential vessel diameter 159–210 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 2–3. Average vessel element length 460–650–890 µm. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 8–10 µm. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders, similar to intervessel pits. Helical thickenings absent. Tyloses in vessels absent.
Tracheids and fibres. Fibres of medium wall thickness. Average fibre length 790–1640 µm. Fibre pits mainly restricted to radial walls, simple to minutely bordered. Fibres non-septate.
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma not banded. Axial parenchyma paratracheal. Paratracheal axial parenchyma aliform, confluent, and unilateral paratracheal. Aliform parenchyma winged. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand 4–9.
Rays. Rays 6–8 per tangential mm, multiseriate, also if only few, 2–3 cells wide. Rays composed of a single cell type. Homocellular ray cells procumbent.
Storied structures. Storied structure absent.
Secretory structures. Intercellular canals absent. Laticifers or tanniniferous tubes absent.
Mineral inclusions. Crystals not observed. Silica not observed.
Physical and chemical tests. Heartwood not fluorescent. Water extract not fluorescent. Water extract basically colourless to brown or shade of brown to yellow or shade of yellow. Ethanol extract not fluorescent. Ethanol extract basically colourless to brown or shade of brown.
Cite this publication as: H. G. Richter and M. J. Dallwitz (2000 onwards). 'Commercial timbers: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval.' In English, French, German, and Spanish. Version: 4th May 2000. http://biodiversity.uno.edu/delta/.
Dallwitz (1980) and Dallwitz, Paine and Zurcher (1993 onwards, 1995 onwards, 1998) should also be cited (see General references).