Anacardium Excelsum (Espave)

Scientific Name
Anacardium excelsum

Trade Name
Espave

Family Name
Anacardiaceae

Synonyms
Anacardium rhinocarpus

Common Names
Bouchi-caju, Cahu, Cajarana, Cajou, Caju, Caju assu, Caju da Malta, Caju da matta, Caju do campo, Cajueiro do campos, Cajuhy, Cajuvana, Caracoli, Caschou, Cashu, Espave, Espavel, Espavel amarillo, Espavel rosado, Gran cashew, Hoobodia, Maranon, Maranon de montana, Mija, Mijagao, Mijao, Pomme caju, Quina, Wild cashew

Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela

Common Uses
Baskets, Beams, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building construction, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Decks, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Food containers, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Office furniture, Packing cases, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Veneer: decorative

Environmental Profile

Vulnerable in Panama. Unknown status in Cuba, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, and Venezuela

Distribution Overview
Costa Rica south through Panama to Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. Frequently found in coastal areas on well-drained soils.� Almost pure stands report in the Darien Province of Panama.

Heartwood Color

Sapwood Color

Grain

Small dark ray flecks, interlocked grain, and a natural sheen are reported to combine to yield an attractive ribbon figure on quarter sawn surfaces. The wood is frequently and prominently marked by attractive vessel lines.

Texture

Luster

Natural Durability

Odor

Silica Content

Light-Induced Color Change

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying

Kiln Drying Rate

Tree Identification

Tree Size

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Boring

Carving

Cutting Resistance

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

Nailing

Planing

Resistance to Impregnation

Response to Hand Tools

Sanding

Turning

Polishing

Staining

Strength Properties

Numerical Data

References
Acosta-Solis, M.,1960,Maderas Economicas del Ecuador y sus Usos,Editorial Casa de la Culhra Ecuatoriana Quito

Arno, J. 1989. Anacardium excelsum – Espave. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World, Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 38-40.

Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux,1955,Nomenclature Generale des Bois Tropicaux,Assoc. Tec. Int. des Bois Tropicaux Nogent-sur-Marne France

Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers – The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research

Bodig, J. and B. A. Jayne. 1982. Mechanics of Wood and Wood Composites. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York.

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods -Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Brazier, J.D., Franklin, G.L.,1967,An Appraisal of the Wood Characteristics and Potential Uses of some,Nicaraguan Timbers,FAO for Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough

Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Chichignoud, M., G. Deon, P. Detienne, B. Parant and P. Vantomme. 1990. Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne, CEDEX, France.

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Cooper, G.P.,1930,Espave (Anacardium rhinocarpus DC,Tropical Woods,3(22, PP4-9

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1943,Foreign Woods,- 2 Notes on Freijo (Cordia goeldiana) and Quaruba,(Vochysia,spp.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Leaflet,No. 29

Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara

France – C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France

Gerry, E., Kryn, J.M.,1952,Espave (Anacardium excelsum,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,Information Leaflet on Foreign Woods

Hess, R.W., Wangaard, F.F., Dickinson, F.E.,1950,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 2,Tropical Woods,13(97,pp1-132

Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory

Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125

Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98

Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press

Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press

Record, S.J.,1939,American Woods of the Family Anacardiaceae,Tropical Woods,8(60,pp11-45

Scheffer, T.C., Duncan, C.G.,1947,The Decay Resistance of certain Central American and Ecuadorian Woods,Tropical Woods,12(92, PP1-24

Simpson, W.T. and J.A. Sagoe. 1991. Relative Drying Times of 650 Tropical Woods : Estimation by Green Moisture Content, Specific Gravity, and Green Weight Density. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-71, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Slooten van der, H.J., Martinez, E.P.,1959,Descripcion y propiedades de algunas madeiras Venezolanas,Inst. for Lation Americano de Investigacion y Capaciticion Boletin,Informaturo Dirulgaturo

Smith, N.J.H, J.T. Williams, D.L. Plucknett and J.P. Talbot. 1992. Tropical Forests and their Crops. Comstock Publishing Associates, a division of Cornell University Press, Ithaca.

Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4

Timber Development Association Ltd.,1948,Notes on Ecuadorian Timbers,TRADA, Timber Information,35,pp5

Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA]

Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition

Venezuela-Laboratories Nacional de Productos Forestates,1974,Caraderisticas, Propiedades y usos de 104 Maderas de los allos Ilanos,occidentales,Min. Ag. y Cria, Universidad de Los andes, Merida, Venezuela Lab.Nac. de,Prod. For.

Villamil, F.G.,1971,Maderas Colombianas,Proexpo Colombia

Wangaard, F.F., and A.F. Muschler. 1952. Tropical Woods – Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods, Volume III, No. 98. School of Forestry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

Wangaard, F.F., Muschler, A.F.,1952,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 3,Tropical Woods,14(98, pp1-190

Wangaard, F.F.,1951,The Physical Properties of Tropical Woods,F.A.O. For. & For. Prod. Studies Series No.3 Tropical Woods and Ag.,Residues as sources of pulp,pp10-16

WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing – Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.

Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series