Thread: Leopard tree

Hi Pete, don't know much about it but apparently it splits if left in log form and cups badly if cut into boards but supposedly is quite nice for woodturning.

Originally Posted by pjt

I am cutting up a Leopard tree, What is the collective's thoughts on this wood?
So far it seems to be quite heavy and dense and unfriendly to slabbing but I may have hit something as the edge went off the saw very quickly, a resharpen and I'll attack it in the morning from the other end and hopefully have more success and take some pics.

Pete

Hi Pete,

You're looking at Libidibia ferrea, a Brazilian species of Libidibia. The other species in the genus are

Libidibia sclerocarpa
Libidibia paraguariensis
Libidibia coriaria
Libidibia glabrata
Libidibia punctata
Stahlia monosperma

Libidibia ferrea heartwood timber density is ~ 1.15g/cc-1.20g/cc (71.8-74.9 lbs/cu. ft.). Here's an article which mentions it. I wish I could buy some good IWCS samples of this tree's heartwood.

Pete,

You lost the down there too with TC Marcia. I cut one up from a few doors up the road after TC Yasi. I haven't turned it yet but it has dried well in the round, far better than most timbers, with very few splits. It is certainly dense & fine grained so I'm hoping it will make nice finials & lidded boxes. I should drag some out of the stash & try it.

The Leopard tree I'm talking about is caesalpinnea ferrea commonly planted as a street tree in FNQ & CQ. It has the white & gray splotched bark, ovate leaves & yellow flowers. Most of the references I have come across mention "very dense and durable wood of the leopard tree lends itself for use in general building and joinery." It is related to the dalbergia's and hence has potential to cause sensitization issues.

Many may know it as "pau ferro" or "brazilian ironwood" which is used as an exotic in wood turning. "Pau Ferro is a tight grained hardwood that has a similar feel and sound to rosewood, but is harder and slightly lighter in color." Its also used in guitar making.

http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-...ods/pau-ferro/ though I'm not sure it is the same species. Common names huh!

I cut up a heap at my place a few years back. Very heavy and the saw definitely doesn't like it when wet, takes the edge off very quickly indeed. The local turning club love it, turns and finishes well when dry. My big pieces have cracked but plenty of useable pieces in between the cracks . My almost black centre has also dried to a dark bands of black, green and purple amongst orange and browns.

Managed to complete the leopard stump today and took a few pics.....
grain colour.jpgearly decay.jpgend.jpgbark.jpgstanding tree.jpgleaves seed pod.jpgcloseup leaves.jpgside view seed pod.jpgseed.jpgside view seed.jpg
I found a few small bits of grit in the pith/bark inclusion which is what gave me grief late last night, the line across the cut is as far as I got, I gave the cutters a tickle and came in from the other end.
Looks like some early signs of a bit of rot. The standing tree was about 10 metres away from the other that fell over, luck of the draw I guess??



Pete

Originally Posted by Runge

Hi Pete,

You're looking at Libidibia ferrea, a Brazilian species of Libidibia. The other species in the genus are

Libidibia sclerocarpa
Libidibia paraguariensis
Libidibia coriaria
Libidibia glabrata
Libidibia punctata
Stahlia monosperma

Libidibia ferrea heartwood timber density is ~ 1.15g/cc-1.20g/cc (71.8-74.9 lbs/cu. ft.). Here's an article which mentions it. I wish I could buy some good IWCS samples of this tree's heartwood.

Hi Runge,
What constitutes good samples?
Pete

Originally Posted by pjt

Hi Runge,
What constitutes good samples?
Pete

Hi Pete,

Thanks for asking! Standard IWCS samples are 6.00" x 3.00" x 0.5" (" = inches). Sometimes people like to have a touch of sapwood but I'm a pure heartwood fan.

Incidentally, here's Libidibia punctata (Ebano) from Colombia. This is also the appearance of Libidibia sclerocarpa wood. It looks quite a bit different than L. ferrea. As for the outside of L. sclerocarpa:

http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/vfh/....php?item=4638
http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/vfh/....php?item=4639
http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/vfh/....php?item=4640
http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/vfh/....php?item=4641
http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/vfh/....php?item=4642

Runge, there was a bit left on the stump that I hacked off today, should be able to get a sample or two out of it if that suits, I'll take a few pics tomorrow.
I assume the IWCS sample pieces are machined finished to size and dry?




Pete

I'm a fan of pau ferro Pete. Lucky you to get hold of a quantity!!

Others have said enough about it for you to get a good idea of its uses and its foibles.

One thing though - borers absolutely LOVE the sapwood but the second they hit the heartwood they stop!!

I have made several pens and knife handles from the timber and given lots of blanks to friends. Everyone
loves the way it finishes.

Originally Posted by Runge

Hi Pete,

Thanks for asking! Standard IWCS samples are 6.00" x 3.00" x 0.5" (" = inches). Sometimes people like to have a touch of sapwood but I'm a pure heartwood fan.

Incidentally, here's Libidibia punctata (Ebano) from Colombia. This is also the appearance of Libidibia sclerocarpa wood. It looks quite a bit different than L. ferrea. As for the outside of L. sclerocarpa:

http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/vfh/....php?item=4638
http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/vfh/....php?item=4639
http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/vfh/....php?item=4640
http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/vfh/....php?item=4641
http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/vfh/....php?item=4642

Interesting thread. The timber from the leopard tree we recovered has all brown heartwood and white sapwood similar to the link Libidibia punctata (Ebano)

Pics of piece for Runge if he wants it
piece for Runge.jpgpiece for Runge1.jpg
It's about 9inches long and should be able to get a sample or two out of it, the sapwood is quite wide unlike those in the link, I wonder if that pinkish area is heart or sapwood turning into heart?


Pete

Originally Posted by pjt

Pics of piece for Runge if he wants it
piece for Runge.jpgpiece for Runge1.jpg
It's about 9inches long and should be able to get a sample or two out of it, the sapwood is quite wide unlike those in the link, I wonder if that pinkish area is heart or sapwood turning into heart?


Pete

Hi Pete,

I sent you a PM. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

Interesting thread. The timber from the leopard tree we recovered has all brown heartwood and white sapwood similar to the link Libidibia punctata (Ebano)

Here's another shot of L. sclerocarpa:

http://naturalista.conabio.gob.mx/observations/409872

Just a few points to clear things up, and I expect Runge will be right on top of this.

I skimmed the article you referenced Runge and note that it was written in 2004 and assented to in 2005.

I see on the page with the sample photos that Caeselpinia ferrea is referred to as pau ferro - ironwood.

Now contributors here are talking of Libidibia sclerocarpa being pau ferro or ironwood.

Are we talking about the same tree?? For me Pete's photos definitely show what I know as a leopard tree and therefore ceaselpinia ferrea, pau ferro or irnwood.

Has the nomenclature been changed since 2005???

The photos shown of Libidibia sclerocarpa show it with a similar mottled bark to the Leopard tree shown by Pete except that the bark is distinctly green in colour.
I have never seen this on a leopard tree, but that doesn't mean it can't be or isn't so.

I also note the photos in the article Of pau rainha - kingwood, pau cobra - snakewood and pau brasil - Brasilwood'.

In Portuguese Pau is wood so a woodpecker is a picca pau.

Pau brasil is gorgeous stuff!! It was originally cut for the red dye that was produced from it, and was nearly cut to exrinction. It is now a protected species with savage
penalties for any person caught trading it without proper authority.