Couratari spp. (Tauarí)
Nomenclature etc. LECYTHIDACEAE. Guianensis Aubl., C. exigua Miers, C. macrosperma A.C. Smith, C. multiflora (J.E. Smith) Eyma, C. oblongifolia Ducke & Knuth, C. stellata A.C. Smith. Trade and local names: tauarí, tauary (BR, YV); wadara, w. kakawalli (GUY), ingie pipa (SME); balata blanc, maho cigarre (GUF); "Brasilianische Wildkirsche" (D). Status of protection under CITES regulations: not protected.
Tree. Geographic distribution: Mexico and Central America and tropical South America.
General. Growth ring boundaries distinct or indistinct or absent. Heartwood basically white or grey white or grey to brown. Sapwood colour similar to heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity 0.5–0.72 g/cm³.
Vessels. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels arranged in no specific pattern, in multiples. Average tangential vessel diameter (120–)150–230(–330) µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 2–3(–5). Average vessel element length 300–450–1000 µm. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) (7–)8–10(–12) µm. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders, similar to intervessel pits. Helical thickenings absent. Tyloses in vessels present, thinwalled.
Tracheids and fibres. Fibres very thin-walled, or of medium wall thickness. Average fibre length 800–1600–2500 µm. Fibre pits mainly restricted to radial walls, simple to minutely bordered. Fibres non-septate.
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma banded. Axial parenchyma bands marginal (or seemingly marginal), scalariform, fine, up to three cells wide, 4–8 per radial mm (C. oblongifolia) or 2 per radial mm (Couratari spp.). Number of parenchyma bands per mm decreasing considerably in latewood. Axial parenchyma apotracheal, or paratracheal. Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse-in-aggregates (in short, wavy lines). Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand (3–)4–6(–8).
Rays. Rays 5–12 per tangential mm, multiseriate, also if only few, (2–)3–5 cells wide. Rays composed of two or more cell types. Heterocellular rays square and upright cells restricted to marginal rows. Number of marginal rows of upright or square cells 1. Sheath cells absent.
Storied structures. Storied structure absent.
Secretory structures. Intercellular canals absent. Laticifers or tanniniferous tubes absent.
Mineral inclusions. Crystals present, prismatic, located in axial parenchyma cells. Crystal-containing axial parenchyma cells chambered (crystals often in very long chains; in this case embedded in unilaterally thickened walls at the adaxial side). Number of crystals per cell or chamber one. Silica present, as grains, in rays cells.
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).