| Family: Fabaceae | | | | insects, marine borers and termites. Cumaru is |
| Genus: Dipteryx | | | | extremely rugged and has been used to build piers |
| Species: odorata | | | | and boardwalks. |
| Common Names: cumaru, tonka, tonka bean tree, | | | | Cumaru is also famous for its fruit, the tonka bean, |
| amburana, imburana de cheiro, tonquin bean, rumara, | | | | whose pleasant scent is a cross between hay and |
| kumaru, cumaruzeiro, charapilla, charapilla del | | | | vanilla. The beans are used in preparations for |
| murcielago, shihuahuaco, yape, sarapia | | | | perfume, scented soaps, and as a flavoring agent in |
| General Description: Cumaru is a hardwood lumber | | | | foods and tobacco. |
| species found in the Amazon rainforest. It grows up | | | | Amazonian tribal medicine has made use of seed and |
| to 100 feet tall and is part of the rainforest canopy. | | | | the bark from the cumaru tree for centuries. This |
| In cultivated or transplanted locations, the tree is | | | | tree is the source of the plant, coumarin, which is a |
| somewhat smaller. This wood is extremely dense, | | | | blood thinner and anticoagulant. In addition, the bark is |
| has a rich reddish brown color, and is naturally | | | | used in a bath for people with fever. In Brazilian |
| resistant to rot and insects. Cumaru is characterized | | | | herbal medicine systems today, cumaru is considered |
| by a tightly interlocked grain and yellowish brown | | | | to possess relief for asthma and bronchial spasms, as |
| streaks. | | | | well as a tonic for the cardiovascular system. The |
| Uses: Extremely durable with incredible strength, this | | | | seeds are fermented in rum, dried and then used for |
| hardwood is naturally resistant to damage. Cumaru is | | | | snakebites, cuts, bumps and scrapes, coughs and |
| water repellant and very rot resistant. Cumaru, also | | | | joint pain. The seed oil is used for earaches and ear |
| known as Brazilian Teak, is only slightly softer than | | | | infections. |
| Ipe (Brazilian walnut), is harder than white oak, jarrah | | | | Disclaimer: The statements contained herein have not |
| and santos mahogany. | | | | been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. |
| Cumaru is an excellent choice for virtually all exterior | | | | Any reference to medicinal use is not intended to |
| and interior construction projects. Its kiln-dried | | | | treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. |
| hardwood is very durable and resistant to fungi, | | | | |