to 60 cms. in diameter. Colour light or dark brown, with 
varying colours on the surface. Grain very coarse and netted. 
Layer of alburnum. Hard to cut. 
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: From 1,055 to 1,278 kgs. 
RESISTANCE: To crushing: 661 kgs.; to flexion:1,170 kgs. 
USES: Scaffolding, posts. Damp situations. Is the best timber of 
S. Paulo for work exposed to the action of water. It is not 
suitable for use in small dimensions on account of shrinking. 
The bark has medicinal properties and is used also for 
tanning. Beautiful surface for polishing. 
HABITAT: Valley of the Mogy-Guassii and in the western part 
of the State. Sierra del Mar. 
OBSERVATIONS: In Mogy-Guassi and in Ubatuba, districts 
differing entirely in the quality of soil, climate and altitude, 
one may meet with ‘huts or humble dwellings constructed 
of the timber of the Orindetiva more than a century ago and 
the wood is still in perfect condition. 
Pao Brazil. 
VARIETIES: Pao Brazil claro. 
43 »  escuro. 
SYNONYMS: Ibirapitanga. Pdédo Pernambuco. Pdo rosado. 
CLASSIFICATION: Caesalpina echinata Lamck. 
Order: Leguminosae. 
DESCRIPTION: Trunks from 6 to 8 metres in length and 60 
to 80 cms. in diameter. 
Colour bright red, with dark patches. Grain fine and 
netted. Layer of alburnum. Hard to carve. 
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: Pao Brasil claro: From 891 to 981 kgs. 
Pado Brazil escuro: From 1,029 to 1,340 kgs. 
RESISTANCE: Pao Brazil claro: To crushing: 714 kgs. Pdo Brazil 
escuro: To crushing: 648 kgs. 
USES: Ship-building. Cabinet-work de luxe. Turning. Has good 
polishing surface. Produces Braziliama, a dye. It is astringent 
and strengthening. 
HABITAT: Sierra del Mar. Grows as far as the boundary of the 
State of Rio de Janeiro. 
OBSERVATIONS: The coast-lands of Brazil are so rich in trees 
of this species that the name given to the timber, Brazil, 
i, e. the colour of fire, spread through the whole of the 
enormous territory discovered by Pedro Alvares Cabral, in 
1500. Even at the present time there is an abundance of the 
species in the Sierras. 
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