Tiger Caspi Wood Slabs

Common Name(s): Tigre Caspi, Tiger Caspi Scientific Name: Zygia cataractae Distribution: Central and South America Average Dried Weight: 66 lbs/ft3 (1,065 kg/m3) Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .78, 1.06 Janka Hardness: 2,420 lbf (10,770 N)* *Estimated hardness based on specific gravity Shrinkage: Radial: 7.6%, Tangential: 10.2%, Volumetric: 17.9%, T/R Ratio: 1.3 Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a yellow to golden or orangish brown, with irregular brown/black streaks. Grayish yellow sapwood is slightly paler than heartwood, and lacking contrasting streaks: not always immediately distinguishable from heartwood. (The wood sample pictured has about 3/4″ of sapwood on the left side.) Overall appearance is very similar to Marblewood. Grain/Texture: Medium, uniform texture with good natural luster. Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; large pores in no specific arrangement, few; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; yellow and reddish brown deposits in pores common; narrow rays not visible without lens, spacing normal; parenchyma vasicentric, winged, lozenge, and confluent. Odor: No characteristic odor. Allergies/Toxicity: Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with Tigre Caspi—most likely because it is so obscure. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. Pricing/Availability: Very infrequently available, Tigre Caspi is most commonly seen as turned blanks or small craft boards. Expect prices to be in the mid range for an imported exotic hardwood. Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Common Uses: Flooring (within its native range), turned objects, and other small specialty wood items. Comments: Tigre Caspi, sometimes spelled as “Tiger Caspi,” is a unique hardwood that has irregular heartwood stripes with high contrast. Related Species: Marblewood  (Zygia racemosa)