Canary wood, a popular choice among woodworkers and craftspeople, is highly valued for its striking appearance and distinctive color palette. Its interesting grain patterns make it a favored material for various decorative and functional applications. This article explores the natural origins of this timber, including the specific tree that produces it and its native global habitats.
The Tree That Yields Canary Wood
Canary wood comes from the tree species Centrolobium microchaete, a member of the Fabaceae family, commonly known as the legume family. This semi-deciduous tree sheds some of its leaves seasonally. Mature trees typically reach heights of 5 to 15 meters, with a trunk diameter of around 120 centimeters.
The trunk of Centrolobium microchaete is generally straight and cylindrical, covered by a light gray or grayish-brown bark that is rough and slightly fissured. Its foliage consists of compound leaves with 13 to 19 leaflets, each about 6 to 9 centimeters long. The tree produces small yellow flowers, typically 10 to 12 millimeters in length, arranged in terminal clusters. The fruits are distinctive winged samaras, measuring between 5.7 and 12 centimeters long, and usually contain one or two seeds.
The wood itself exhibits a heartwood color ranging from pale yellow-orange to a darker reddish-brown, often featuring prominent dark streaks. This coloration can sometimes present a “rainbow-hued” appearance, though the wood tends to darken and become more uniform in color as it ages. Canary wood is recognized for its fine to medium texture and natural luster. The timber is dense and durable, showing good resistance to decay and insect infestations.
Its Natural Global Home
Centrolobium microchaete is primarily native to South America, with its most significant distribution across Brazil. It naturally occurs in numerous Brazilian states, including Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo. The species is found in two distinct geographical areas within Brazil: one in the northwestern state of Ceará and another spanning the eastern coastal regions from Pernambuco south to Santa Catarina. Beyond Brazil, populations are also established in Bolivia, where the wood is sometimes known as “tarara amarilla.”
This tree thrives in specific environmental conditions. It prefers well-drained, fertile soils and adapts to various light conditions, from semi-shade to full sun. The species is found across a wide range of altitudes, from 30 meters in coastal areas to 900 meters in elevated regions.
The natural habitats experience mean annual precipitation ranging from 1,000 to 2,100 millimeters. Rainfall patterns can be consistently distributed throughout the year in coastal zones or concentrated during summer months in inland areas. The tree shows a degree of drought tolerance. Average annual temperatures in these regions fall between 19.4 °C and 24.8 °C. This species is not currently listed as endangered by international conservation organizations, indicating its populations are relatively stable in its native range.