CROWN CEREJEIRA

Also known as: Cumare, Cumaru, Brazilian Oak

Botanical Name: Amburana cearensis

Origin: South America, principally Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina

Description: Surprisingly little used in the U.K., this yellow to pinky-yellow and attractively coarse-grained veneer can in good examples look most handsome when finished. The fresh veneer has a pleasing scent, somewhat like that of vanilla. Felling is controlled in Brazil and Argentina although the species is readily available. The logs are usually flat-sliced or cut into thirds in order to produce mainly crown veneer but good quality straight grained material is generally also available. Less commonly seen is the appropriately named and more exotic looking Tiger-figured Cerejeira, displaying irregular dark brown flecks and broken stripes which, along with the coarse grain, uncannily resembles the fur of a Tiger. Occasional parcels of highly decorative curls (crotches) are sometimes produced, these being mainly used on special furniture.