Muiracatiara, Curupay (Astronium lecointei) grows in the tropical forests of South America from Mexico and southwards to Brazil. The trees grow up to about 40 metres high and often reach more than 1 m in diameter. The heartwood is light orange, copper to reddish brown with irregularly distributed dark brown to black stripes, darkening with age. The appearance is very similar to that of fine mahogany, but it is clearly heavier and harder.
The grain of the wood is usually straight, sometimes slightly wavy, it has an even structure with a natural lustre and is fine-pored. The dry weight is about 900 kg/m3, and despite its high density it is easy to work and produces very beautiful, smooth, deeply shimmering surfaces with a beautiful lustre.
Muiracatiara wood is used for flooring, veneer, furniture, interior fittings, turned objects and other small applications such as billiard cues, bows, knife handles.
