Ishpingo

Family: Fabaceae - Order: Fabales - Class: Magnoliopsida
Scientific name: Amburana cearensis

Trade name: Cerejeira Brasileira / Ishpingo

Also known as Brazillian Oak, Umburana cheira, Trebol, Sorioco, Cerejeira Rajadaand Ishpingo Negro

Origin: Brazil

Instrumental uses:
Guitar back and sides, head plates and bindings

Tonal properties:

Is a very good hardwood with a stately curved but consistently shaped grain.  it is very rigid and imparts a rich clear tone. An excellent wood for rims and backboards where an interesting but not elaborate figure is required.

Most importantly, it is light weight and has a round, present tap tone that, while similar to mahogany, has much more volume and pumping highs with well defined frequency range. Great environmental sounding, with very well distinct voices. It is porous but can be easily turned in an excellent finish.

The wood density at 12% MC is nearly 580Kg/m³.

The Amburana cearensis trees are large, reaching heights of up to 25 or 30 m, with trunk diameters of 50 to 90 cm. The boles have commercial lengths of about 15 m. The tree has a strong cumarin scent.

The sapwood is indistinct from the heartwood, which is described as uniform yellow to medium-brown.

The grain is usually interlocked, exhibits a medium to high luster.

It is resistant to decay and insect attack

The nice scented seeds are used as perfume in toilet soaps. The oil present in the tree is used for medicinal purposes.

CITES status is protected under the Appendix II. Is reported on the IUCN Red List as endangered.