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Nomenclature etc. LECYTHIDACEAE. C. 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: tauary (BR, VE); wadara, w. kakawalli (GY), ingie pipa (SR); balata blanc, maho cigarre (GF); "Brasilianische Wildkirsche" (DE). Not protected under CITES regulations.
Tree. Geographic distribution: Mexico and Central America, 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. Density 0.5–0.72 g/cm³.
Vessels. Wood diffuse porous. Vessels arranged in no specific pattern, in multiples, commonly in short (2–3 vessels) radial rows or in radial rows of 4 or more. 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. Tyloses present, thinwalled.
Tracheids and fibres. Fibres 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 present, banded. Bands marginal (or seemingly marginal) or not marginal (or seemingly marginal). Axial parenchyma bands forming a scalariform pattern with rays. Bands fine, 4–8 per radial mm (C. oblongifolia) or 2 per radial mm (Couratari spp.). Number of parenchyma bands per mm increasing considerably in latewood. Axial parenchyma apotracheal (in short, wavy lines), or paratracheal. Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse, or diffuse-in-aggregates. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per strand: (3–)4–6(–8).
Rays. Rays 5–12 per tangential mm, multiseriate, (2–)3–5 cells wide. Height of large rays up to 500 µm, or commonly 500 to 1000 µm. Rays composed of two or more cell types (heterocellular). Heterocellular rays with square and upright cells restricted to marginal rows, mostly 1 marginal row of upright or square cells.
Storied structures. Storied structure absent.
Secretory structures. Intercellular canals 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 cells with unilaterally thickened walls at the adaxial side). Number of crystals per cell or chamber one. Silica present, as grains; in rays cells.
Illustrations. • Macroscopic images. transverse (ca. 10x). radial (natural size). • Transverse section. Couratari pulchra. • Tangential section 1. Couratari pulchra. • Tangential section 2. Couratari multiflora. Couratari coriacea. • Radial section. Couratari pulchra. • Mineral inclusions. Couratari pulchra. prismatic crystals in long chains of chambered axial parenchyma cells with unilaterally thickened walls (left); silica grains in ray cells (right).
The interactive key allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting specified attributes, summaries of attributes within groups of taxa, and geographical distribution.
Cite this publication as: ‘Richter, H.G., and Dallwitz, M.J. 2000 onwards. Commercial timbers: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. In English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. Version: 9th April 2019. delta-intkey.com’.
