SCIENTIFIC NAME
Astronium fraxinifolium. Derivation: The genus name is Greek for star. The specific epithet is Latin meaning resembling ash, which refers to the leaves.

FAMILY
Anacardiaceae, the cashew family.

OTHER NAMES
gateado, kingwood, mura, tigerwood, zorrowood.

DISTRIBUTION
Guyana, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Trinidad, Brazil.

THE TREE
Goncalo alves grows symmetrically to a height of 100 feet or more with diameters up to 3 feet. This strongly aromatic tree thrives best in a dry environment. The brown bark is rather thin but smooth with contrasting whitish and reddish patches. Trees in isolation from major growth areas, however, have a deeply ridged bark. The leaves are pinnately compound

THE TIMBER
The color of goncalo alves is light golden-brown to reddish-brown with blackish-brown streaks of variable spacing. The odor and taste are not distinct, and the luster is dull to medium. The wood is very hard and heavy with an average specific gravity of 0.68 to 0.97 (ovendry weight/green volume), equivalent to an air-dried weight of 53 to 80 pef. The grain is wavy, and the texture is fine. Sometimes the wood has a mottled figure resembling some rosewoods in the genus Dalbergia. The strength properties are very similar to those of flowering dogwood (Camus florida WDS 088).

SEASONING
The wood should be seasoned slowly to avoid excessive warping and checking. Average reported shrinkage values (green to ovendry) are 4.5% radial and 7.0% tangential.

DURABILITY
Goncalo alves heartwood is very durable.

WORKABILITY
In general the wood is somewhat difficult to work, but workability varies considerably according to density. It finishes with a high natural polish, turns well and is noted for its durability.

USES
Goncalo alves is used for boat building, general construction, furniture and cabinetry, flooring, shutters and bobbins (as a dogwood substitute), veneer, plywood, turnery and for knife handles as a cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa WDS 098) substitute.

SUPPLIES
While the timber is abundant in its natural growth areas, it is limited in supply in the United States. When available commercially, it is considered a costly species.

Information from A Guide to Useful Woods of the World, Second Edition, James H. Flynn, Jr. and Charles D. Holder, Editors. Forest Products Society, Madison, Wisconsin, 2001.

Photographs from MDArtworks