Bagassa guianensis Aubl., B. tiliaefolia R. Ben. (Tatajuba)
Nomenclature etc. MORACEAE. Trade and local names: tatajuba, bagassa (D, BR), fustik (GUY), moral (EC), amap -rana, bagaceira, amoreira, garrote (BR), bagasse, bagasse jaune, bois jaune (F, FGU), gele bagasse (NL, SME). Status of protection under CITES regulations: not protected.
Tree. Geographic distribution: tropical South America.
General. Heartwood basically brown to yellow to green (yellowish brown when fresh, darkening to deep copper brown), without streaks. Sapwood colour distinct from heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity 0.75–0.8 g/cm³.
Vessels. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels arranged in no specific pattern, in multiples, commonly short (2–3 vessels) radial rows. Average tangential vessel diameter (155–)225–290 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 1–4. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 8–10 µm. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders and with reduced borders or apparently simple, similar to intervessel pits, rounded or angular, of uniform size or type. Tyloses in vessels present, thinwalled.
Tracheids and fibres. Fibres of medium wall thickness, or very thick-walled. Average fibre length 800–1500 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 vasicentric and aliform. Aliform parenchyma lozenge. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand 2–5.
Rays. Rays 4–7 per tangential mm, multiseriate, also if only few, 2–4 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.
Storied structures. Storied structure absent.
Secretory structures. Intercellular canals absent. Laticifers or tanniniferous tubes occasionally, lacticifers present.
Mineral inclusions. Crystals present, prismatic, located in ray cells and axial parenchyma cells. Crystal-containing ray cells upright and/or square and procumbent. Crystal-containing axial parenchyma cells not chambered. Number of crystals per cell or chamber one. Silica not observed.
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).