Muirabi

Scientific name: Peltogyne discolor

Overview

Muirabi is a tropical South American hardwood belonging to the Fabaceae family and the Peltogyne genus, the botanical group responsible for the woods collectively known as Purpleheart. Peltogyne discolor is native to portions of tropical South America, particularly Brazil and surrounding regions.

Like other members of Peltogyne, the heartwood can undergo substantial color development after cutting. Fresh surfaces may initially appear brownish, grayish brown, or muted reddish-purple before exposure to air and light encourages stronger violet and purple coloration. With prolonged aging and ultraviolet exposure, the color can eventually deepen toward dark purple, purplish brown, or brown.

Muirabi is a dense, hard tropical hardwood with potentially interlocked grain. Its combination of unusual coloration, strength, and polished appearance makes it suitable for decorative furniture, cabinetry, turning, inlay, carving, small specialty projects, and documented wood collections.

Quick Facts

  • Common Name: Muirabi
  • Alternate Common Names: Guarabu, Pau-Roxo, Roxinho
  • Scientific Name: Peltogyne discolor
  • Region: South American Woods
  • Tree Size: Medium to large tropical tree; mature dimensions vary with habitat and growing conditions
  • Average Dried Weight: Reliable standardized species-specific value is not widely documented
  • Janka Hardness: Reliable standardized species-specific value is not widely documented
  • Grain: Straight to interlocked or irregular
  • Texture: Fine to medium

Identification Characteristics

Muirabi’s most distinctive feature is the coloration that develops within its heartwood.

Freshly surfaced material may initially appear relatively subdued, with brown, grayish-brown, reddish-brown, or muted violet coloration. Exposure to oxygen and light can intensify the purple tones.

Older exposed surfaces can gradually become considerably darker and may eventually shift toward purplish brown or deep brown.

Sapwood is generally pale cream to yellowish brown and contrasts strongly with mature heartwood.

Key identification traits include:

  • Brownish to muted purple freshly cut heartwood
  • Violet to purple coloration developing after exposure
  • Dark purple to purplish-brown aged surfaces
  • Pale cream to yellowish sapwood
  • Strong sapwood and heartwood contrast
  • Straight to interlocked grain
  • Fine to medium texture

Working Properties

Muirabi can be challenging to machine because of its density, hardness, and potentially interlocked grain.

Sharp cutting tools are important. Carbide tooling can be beneficial for repeated machining, while light cutting passes can help reduce tear-out in reversing grain.

Excessive friction and heat should be avoided during machining. Once properly surfaced, the wood can be sanded and polished to an attractive finish that emphasizes its natural coloration.

  • High cutting resistance
  • Sharp tools are recommended
  • Carbide tooling can be beneficial
  • Interlocked grain may cause tear-out
  • Turns well with appropriate tooling
  • Sands and polishes well
  • Pre-drilling is recommended for fasteners

Safety Note

Wood dust from Purpleheart species can cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals. Repeated exposure may increase sensitivity in some woodworkers.

Effective dust extraction, eye protection, respiratory protection, and appropriate skin protection are recommended during sawing, routing, turning, carving, and sanding.

Common Uses

Muirabi’s distinctive coloration, hardness, density, and decorative appearance make it suitable for applications including:

  • Decorative furniture
  • Cabinetry
  • Inlay
  • Wood turning
  • Carving
  • Decorative boxes
  • Handles
  • Furniture accents
  • Small specialty objects
  • Collector specimens

Sustainability & Notes

Muirabi occurs naturally within tropical South American forests, making responsible forest management and habitat protection important considerations when sourcing the wood.

One particular challenge with Peltogyne timber is commercial identification. Multiple species may enter trade simply as Purpleheart, without botanical identification to the individual species level.

For lesser-known species such as Peltogyne discolor, documented geographic origin and reliable botanical identification substantially improve the value of both commercial and collector material.

Legal harvesting, transparent supply chains, forest regeneration, and responsible management should be prioritized whenever sourcing tropical timber.

Comparative Notes & Related Species

Catinga Purpleheart – Another individually documented Peltogyne species whose heartwood develops the distinctive purple coloration associated with the genus.

Amarante – A South American Peltogyne wood that provides another useful species-level comparison within the Purpleheart group.

Paradox Purpleheart – A separately identified Peltogyne species useful for demonstrating the botanical diversity hidden behind the commercial Purpleheart name.

Related Guides

Purpleheart Species Guide
Explore individual Peltogyne species and learn how the commercial Purpleheart name encompasses multiple botanically distinct South American trees.

How to Store Exotic Wood Samples
Learn how light, moisture, temperature, handling, and storage conditions can affect the appearance and long-term condition of documented wood specimens.

Wood Toxicity and Allergies Guide
Explore potential reactions to hardwood dust and learn appropriate precautions for working with sensitizing or irritating tropical species.

Finishing Oils vs. Polyurethane on Exotic Species
Compare finishing systems and learn how different coatings influence coloration, grain contrast, protection, and long-term appearance.

Building a Documented Wood Collection
Learn how scientific identification, geographic origin, acquisition records, photographs, and provenance increase the educational value of wood specimens.

Compare Wood Properties

See how this species ranks in density and hardness using our Wood Density & Janka Hardness Chart. You can also explore Hardest Woods, Softest Woods, and Most Dense Woods for quick comparisons.

Collector Notes

Muirabi is particularly valuable to collectors because most Purpleheart specimens are identified only by the commercial trade name rather than by individual species.

An authenticated Peltogyne discolor specimen therefore provides significantly greater botanical value than generic Purpleheart material.

Samples photographed or preserved at different stages of oxidation can also provide an excellent record of the species’ changing coloration.

Collector specimens should retain the scientific name Peltogyne discolor, geographic origin, acquisition date, source, and supporting identification information whenever available.

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Do you have lumber, wood samples, tree photographs, woodworking projects, furniture, carvings, turnings, musical instruments, or other items made from this species?

Exotic Woods of the World welcomes photographs from woodworkers, collectors, sawyers, researchers, and wood enthusiasts around the world. Selected submissions may be featured on this page and throughout our website to help document and showcase real-world examples of this species.

When submitting photos, please include the common name, scientific name (if known), a brief description, and any information you would like us to share with the image.

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Wood Sample Collection

This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.

Learn more about contributing to the collection:

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Resources

Authoritative botanical and forestry references used in compiling information about this species include:

• USDA Forest Service – Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/products/publications/

• The Wood Database – Global reference for wood identification, physical properties, and woodworking characteristics
https://www.wood-database.com/

• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Plants of the World Online – Botanical taxonomy and species distribution database
https://powo.science.kew.org/

• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) – Global conservation status assessments
https://www.iucnredlist.org/

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – International trade regulations for protected plant species
https://cites.org/

Additional forestry publications, academic research papers, and regional timber studies may also be referenced where available.

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Availability & Where to Buy

Exotic hardwood availability can vary significantly depending on region, sustainability regulations, and supplier inventory.

As this archive grows, recommended suppliers and specialty wood retailers will be listed here to help woodworkers locate responsibly sourced material.

Lumber Suppliers:

Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.

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