Nine Emerging Wood Species
Emerging Wood Species to Watch
With a widening interest in the next new or interesting wood, IWPA took a look at some of the wood species that could be the next big thing. These are hardwoods that are already available in the same forests as classic species but are not yet as widely used.
One major advantage to using "lesser known species" is that it helps to promote sustainable forest management in developing countries and provides a critical economic incentive for local communities to manage forests rather than convert them to farms and ranches.
There are hundreds of species in the world with similar physical and mechanical properties as more traditionally harvested species. Just because a wood species is not well-known, does not mean it will not be exactly the right wood for your next project.
Emerging Wood Species to Watch:
- Hura
- Red Mandioqueira
- Boxwood
- Antiaris
- Greenheart
- Sandé
- Santa Maria
- Tornillo
- Garapa
Spotlight on: Hura / Acacu / Catahua
Species: Hura crepitans
Origin: Throughout the West Indies and from Central America to Northern Brazil and Bolivia
Common Applications: Interior furniture, general carpentry, boxes and crates, as well as veneer and plywood, fiberboard, and particleboard.
Characteristics/Appearance: The wood varies from pale yellowish-brown or pale olive-gray, with the heartwood as indistinct from the yellowish-white sapwood. The texture is typically fine to medium with typically straight grain. Hura is a low-density wood and can be challenging to shape or mould. Hura has good nailing, screwing, gluing and finishing properties.
Janka Hardness Scale: 550 lbf (see chart on page 56)
Comments: Seasoned wood is fairly dimensionally stable and moderately durable. The wood is excellent in applications where a lower density is important.
Spotlight on: Red Mandioqueira, Mandio
Species: Qualea spp.
Origin: South and Central America
Comparable to Other Popular Woods: Iroko
Common Applications: Flooring, interior joinery, turnings, exterior paneling, decking, furniture components, shipbuilding, as well as industrial usage and heavy work.
Characteristics/Appearance: Heartwood is pinkish brown to reddish brown, often with sharply demarcated grayish to yellow sapwood. The texture is medium to coarse, with straight to interlocked grain. It is easily machined and glues satisfactorily.
Janka Hardness Scale: 1,320 lbf (see chart on page 56)
Comments: Can be used in making instruments for its acoustic properties.
Frequently asked questions
What are the emerging wood species identified by IWPA?+
IWPA identified nine emerging wood species to watch: Hura, Red Mandioqueira, Boxwood, Antiaris, Greenheart, Sandé, Santa Maria, Tornillo, and Garapa. These hardwoods grow in the same forests as classic species but are not yet widely used.
Why should buyers consider using lesser-known wood species?+
Using lesser-known species promotes sustainable forest management in developing countries and provides an economic incentive for local communities to manage forests rather than convert them to farms and ranches. Many of these species also have physical and mechanical properties similar to more traditionally harvested woods.
What is Hura wood used for and where does it come from?+
Hura (Hura crepitans), also known as Acacu or Catahua, grows throughout the West Indies and from Central America to Northern Brazil and Bolivia. It is commonly used for interior furniture, general carpentry, boxes and crates, veneer, plywood, fiberboard, and particleboard.
What are the characteristics of Hura wood?+
Hura is a low-density wood that varies from pale yellowish-brown to pale olive-gray, with heartwood indistinct from the yellowish-white sapwood. It has a fine to medium texture with typically straight grain, and offers good nailing, screwing, gluing, and finishing properties, though it can be challenging to shape or mould. Its Janka hardness is 550 lbf.
What is Red Mandioqueira wood comparable to and what is it used for?+
Red Mandioqueira (Qualea spp.) is comparable to Iroko and originates from South and Central America. It is used for flooring, interior joinery, turnings, exterior paneling, decking, furniture components, shipbuilding, and heavy industrial work, and can also be used in musical instruments due to its acoustic properties.
How hard is Red Mandioqueira wood and what does it look like?+
Red Mandioqueira has a Janka hardness of 1,320 lbf. Its heartwood is pinkish brown to reddish brown with sharply demarcated grayish to yellow sapwood, featuring a medium to coarse texture with straight to interlocked grain, and it machines easily and glues satisfactorily.