Louro Preto (Cordia megalantha)

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Common Name(s): Louro Preto, Laurel Negro

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Scientific Name: Cordia spp. (C. megalantha, C. glabrata)

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Distribution: Tropical Americas, southward to Brazil

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Tree Size: 50-65 ft (15-20 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1 m) trunk diameter

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Average Dried Weight: 59 lbs/ft3 (845 kg/m3)

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Color/Appearance: Heartwood medium brown with a reddish cast (or sometimes olive-colored cast). Darker brown streaks common. Sharply demarcated from the pale sapwood. Color darkens with age.

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Grain/Texture: Grain can be straight or irregular. Fine to medium texture and good natural luster.

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Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; solitary and radial multiples; medium to large pores in no specific arrangement, few; tyloses and other mineral deposits (yellow/brown) common; parenchyma varies slightly between species, but is generally banded (marginal), as well as vasicentric, aliform (lozenge), and confluent; medium to wide rays, spacing normal to wide.

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Rot Resistance: Rated as very durable.

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Workability: Some species may contain silica that w

ill dull cutters. On the whole, Louro Preto is easily worked and machined with good results. Although it has a fairly high amount of natural oils present, gluing is usually problem-free. (See the article on gluing oily tropical hardwoods for more information.) Turns and finishes well.