Vochysia spp. (Quaruba)
Nomenclature etc. VOCHYSIACEAE. V. citrifolia, V. densiflora, V. divergens, V. diversa, V. duquei, V. ferruginea, V. guianensis, V. guatemalensis, V. hondurensis, V. lanceolata, V. leguiana, V. lehmannii, V. maxima, V. obidensis, V, obscura, V. tetraphylla, V. tomentosa. Trade and local names: quaruba, tin-tin.
Description based on: 27 specimens. Tree. Geographic distribution: Mexico and Central America and tropical South America.
General. Heartwood basically red (pinkish brown). Sapwood colour similar to heartwood colour, or distinct from heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity 0.33–0.5 g/cm³.
Vessels. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels in multiples. Average tangential vessel diameter 198–412 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 2–4. Average vessel element length 370–610 µm. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 6–11 µm, vestured. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders, similar to intervessel pits. Tyloses in vessels absent.
Tracheids and fibres. Fibres of medium wall thickness. Average fibre length 1080–1680 µm. Fibre pits mainly restricted to radial walls, simple to minutely bordered. Fibres non-septate.
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma banded. Axial parenchyma paratracheal. Paratracheal axial parenchyma aliform, or confluent. Aliform parenchyma lozenge. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand 2–8.
Rays. Rays 3–7 per tangential mm, multiseriate, also if only few, 3–7 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 more than 4.
Secretory structures. Intercellular canals present, traumatic origin, axial type.
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. Ethanol extract not fluorescent. Ethanol extract basically colourless to brown or shade of brown. Chrome azurol-S test positive.
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).