Couroupita spp. (Cannon-ball tree, castanha de macaco)
Nomenclature etc. LECYTHIDACEAE. C. guianensis Aubl., C. nicaraguensis DC., Couroupita spp. Trade and local names: bala de cañón (C); coco de mono (PAN); canon ball tree (GB, GUY); bosch kalabas (NL, SME); castanha de macaco (BR); "Brasilianische Wildkirsche" (D). Status of protection under CITES regulations: not protected.
Tree. Geographic distribution: Mexico and Central America, Caribbean, and tropical South America.
General. Heartwood basically white or grey white or grey to brown. Sapwood colour similar to heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity 0.4–0.6 g/cm³.
Vessels. Vessels present. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels arranged in no specific pattern, in multiples, commonly short (2–3 vessels) radial rows or radial rows of 4 or more. Average tangential vessel diameter 160–220–330 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 2–3(–7). Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) (9–)10–12 µm. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders or with reduced borders or apparently simple, similar to intervessel pits, horizontal to vertical, of uniform size or type. Helical thickenings absent. Tyloses in vessels present, thinwalled.
Tracheids and fibres. Fibres very thin-walled, or of medium wall thickness. Fibre pits common in both radial and tangential walls, simple to minutely bordered. Fibres non-septate.
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma banded or not banded. Axial parenchyma bands marginal (or seemingly marginal), fine, up to three cells wide. Axial parenchyma apotracheal, or paratracheal. Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse-in-aggregates. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand (3–)4–6(–8).
Rays. Rays 6–10 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.
Mineral inclusions. Crystals present, prismatic, located in axial parenchyma cells. Crystal-containing axial parenchyma cells 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).