Piquia

Description

Piquia is also known as White Iron Wood as the name implies is a light colored hardwood that is resistant to climate and wear.  It is a yellowish or light grayish brown wood with interlocked grain.  Like other hardwoods, Piquia is used for exterior constructions.  Indoor applications such as countertops and tables are also common.

Species: Caryocar butyrosum

Other Names: Piquiarana, Piquia, Biqui, Pequi, Chawari, Pekia

Piquia Origin:   Central and South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Venezuela)

Appearance: It is characterized by a yellowish to light grayish brown color. The texture is medium to coarse, and the grain is generally interlocked. Piquia is very durable and resistant to decay fungi and dry-wood termites which makes it an ideal structure for exterior construction.

Drying: It takes a while to dry the wood and though it can warp and check, it does so only to a minor extent

Workability:  Piquia is a tropical hardwood so it is moderately difficult to work with, for example the cutting edges dull rapidly

Maintenance: Like all tropical wood, piquia will lose its original color if exposed to the sun.

Preservation: Piquia does not require any special treatment as it will last many years without maintenance, but the hardwood naturally and change color after time.

Sustainable: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) does not list piquia in its appendices.