Fun fact(s): In biological terms, the jatoba isn't a tree. It's a legume. A 130-foot-tall legume, at that! The reason that jatoba grows so high and is so durable, despite its definition as a simple legume, is due to the fact that its resin is so resilient and rich.
As you may remember from the film Jurassic Park, tree resin is also known as amber, the tree sap that hardens as strong as stone. Jatoba happens to be one of the world’s most important and most pure sources of yellow amber, and its clear golden colour is prized not only by Hollywood filmmakers but by jewellers and collectors all over the globe.
JATOBA DOOR
-
Formal name: Hymenaea courbaril.
-
Other name(s): Locust; Brazilian cherry.
-
Native to: Central America, southern Mexico, northern South America, and the West Indies.
-
Colour: Light orange-brown that deepens to a darker red-brown.
-
Uses: Interior and exterior flooring, parquet, architectural details, fine furniture, cabinetry, stair treads etc.
-
Properties: Jatoba is prized for its pleasing colour, beauty, and durability. It is one of the hardest wood species.
-