Jatoba
Hymenaea courbaril · Hardwood · Central and South America
Properties
| Janka hardness | 2,350 lbf (10,453 N) |
|---|---|
| Average dried weight (est.) | 44 lb/ft³ (710 kg/m³) |
| Specific gravity | 0.71 |
| Modulus of rupture | 19,400 psi (133.8 MPa) |
| Modulus of elasticity | 2.16 million psi (14.89 GPa) |
| Crushing strength | 9,510 psi (65.6 MPa) |
| Shrinkage — radial | 4.5% |
| Shrinkage — tangential | 8.5% |
| Shrinkage — volumetric | 12.7% |
| Shrinkage T/R ratio | 1.9 |
Values at 12% moisture content, clear-wood averages. Source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021), Table 5-5b p. 5-22; shrinkage Table 4-4 p. 4-9.
Jatoba, listed in the Handbook as courbaril, is a very hard, heavy South American hardwood (specific gravity 0.71, Janka hardness 2,350 lbf) sold in North America largely as flooring. Its strength and shock resistance also make it a traditional wood for tool handles and steam-bent parts.
Appearance & grain
The sapwood is grayish white and usually wide. Fresh heartwood runs salmon red to orange-brown, deepening with drying to a russet or reddish brown that often carries dark streaks. The texture is medium to coarse, and the grain is mostly interlocked.
Durability
The Handbook rates jatoba heartwood moderately to very resistant to decay fungi and to dry-wood termites; the heartwood resists preservative treatment, while the sapwood can be treated.
Workability
The Handbook calls jatoba moderately difficult to saw and machine because of its density, though it machines to a smooth surface; turning, gluing, and finishing are satisfactory. Planing can be difficult where the grain is interlocked, and its steam-bending performance compares favorably with white oak.
Common uses
- Flooring
- Tool handles
- Steam-bent parts
- Turnery
- Furniture and cabinetwork
- Veneer and plywood
- Railroad crossties
- Specialty items
Conservation: IUCN Red List: Least Concern (checked 2026-10-24).
Work with Jatoba
Similar woods
Photo: Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (France). Programme Bois. Producteur d'un fonds d'archives · Public domain (source)
Property data: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook — Wood as an Engineering Material, FPL-GTR-282 (2021).