SCIENTIFIC NAME
Centrolobium spp. Derivation: The genus name is Latin meaning "many lobes on leaves". Because the anatomy of the wood of this genus is considered fairly consistent and distinctive and at least three of its species have been recently advertised on the commercial market as canarywood, it was decided to group these woods into one Wood Data Sheet. Canarywood may likely be C. robustum, C. tomentosum, C. paraense, C. orinocense or C. ochroxylon.

FAMILY
Fabaceae or Leguminosae, the legume family; (Papilionaceae) the pea or pulse group.

OTHER NAMES
This is quite complicated. Practically every locality where this tree can be found has applied one or more distinctive common names to the genus without regard to the species. Commercially, the wood is marketed under only a few names; the most popular names are canarywood, arariba, porcupinewood and putumuju. In their book Timbers of the New World, Record and Hess list 42 common names for these species.

DISTRIBUTION
These species occur irregularly from Panama to Ecuador and southern Brazil.

THE TREE
These species are large trees growing to a height of 100 feet or more with a trunk diameter of 30 to 50 inches. The large imparipinnate leaves bear 7 to 17 opposite to alternate leaflets. The yellow or purplish flowers are borne in terminal panicles. The large samara-like indehiscent pod contains one to three seeds and resembles a chestnut bur with the wing of a gigantic maple seed attached to it.

THE TIMBER
The heartwood, which is clearly demarcated from the yellowish sapwood, is bright yellow or orange, typically variegated and sometimes "rainbow-hued". In time, this color usually changes to red or brown. The texture and luster varies. Likewise, the grain varies from straight to irregular. Some species have no odor or taste while others may have a distinctive odor and a faint taste. The average reported specific gravity varies from 0.61 to 0.69 (ovendry weight/green volume), equivalent to an air-dried weight 0 47 to 54 pd.

SEASONING
The wood dries at a moderate rate with little or no warp and low shrinkage. Average reported shrinkage values (green to ovendry) are 2.4% radial, 5.6% tangential and 8.4% volumetric. Canarywood is dimensionally stable when in use.

DURABILITY
Canarywood is very durable. It is reported to be highly resistant to attack by decay fungi, termites and other insects as well as teredo marine borers. It does not take impregnation with preservatives very well.

WORKABILITY
The wood of these species is easy to work with all types of tools. It sands and finishes well. Hand cabinet scrapers do well to smooth out the occasional fuzzy spots.

USES
Because of its attractive grain and stability, canarywood is used for the manufacture of fine furniture and cabinetry. It also has many other applications including heavy construction timbers, decorative veneer and flooring as well as ship components such as planking, keel, decking and trim.

SUPPLIES
Canarywood is occasionally seen on the commercial market at a fairly expensive price.

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