Catinga Purpleheart
Scientific name: Peltogyne catingae
Overview
Catinga Purpleheart is a tropical hardwood native to northern South America, particularly Brazil. Peltogyne catingae belongs to the Fabaceae family and is part of the Peltogyne genus, the botanical group responsible for the remarkable purple-colored woods collectively known as Purpleheart.
Freshly cut heartwood can initially appear grayish brown, brown, or muted reddish brown before exposure to air and light triggers the development of its characteristic purple coloration. Over time, the purple can deepen toward violet, dark purple, purplish brown, or eventually brownish tones. Sapwood is considerably paler and normally contrasts sharply with mature heartwood.
Catinga Purpleheart is dense, hard, strong, and potentially difficult to machine. Its striking natural coloration makes it particularly desirable for decorative woodworking, furniture accents, turning, inlay, small specialty projects, and wood collections.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Catinga Purpleheart
- Alternate Common Names: Catinga Violetwood, Pau Roxo
- Scientific Name: Peltogyne catingae
- Region: South American Woods
- Tree Size: Medium to large tropical tree; dimensions vary considerably 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: Medium
Identification Characteristics
The most distinctive characteristic of Catinga Purpleheart is the dramatic color development of its heartwood.
Freshly exposed surfaces may initially appear relatively dull, grayish brown, reddish brown, or muted purple. Exposure to oxygen and ultraviolet light encourages the development of stronger violet and purple coloration.
With prolonged exposure and aging, those vivid colors may gradually darken toward deep purple, purplish brown, and eventually brown.
Sapwood is typically pale cream to yellowish brown and provides strong contrast with mature heartwood.
Key identification traits include:
- Grayish to brown coloration when freshly cut
- Purple coloration develops after exposure
- Violet to deep purple mature heartwood
- Color can eventually shift toward purplish brown
- Pale cream to yellowish sapwood
- Strong heartwood and sapwood contrast
- Straight to interlocked grain
- Medium texture
Working Properties
Catinga Purpleheart can be challenging to machine because of its density, hardness, and potentially interlocked grain.
Sharp carbide tooling is beneficial when processing harder material. Dull tools can increase heat generation and produce poorer surface quality.
Interlocked grain may tear during planing, while excessive machining heat can potentially affect surface appearance. Lighter cutting passes and sharp tooling generally produce better results.
- High cutting resistance
- Sharp carbide tools are recommended
- Interlocked grain may produce tear-out
- Turns well with appropriate tooling
- Sands to a smooth surface
- Can take an excellent polish
- Pre-drilling is recommended for fasteners
Safety Note
Wood dust from Purpleheart species has been associated with irritation and sensitivity in some woodworkers. Potential reactions may involve the skin, eyes, or respiratory system.
Effective dust extraction, eye protection, respiratory protection, and appropriate skin protection are recommended when machining or sanding Catinga Purpleheart.
Common Uses
Its unusual natural coloration, density, hardness, and decorative potential make Catinga Purpleheart suitable for applications including:
- Decorative furniture
- Furniture accents
- Cabinetry
- Inlay
- Wood turning
- Carving
- Decorative boxes
- Handles
- Small specialty objects
- Collector specimens
Sustainability & Notes
Catinga Purpleheart occurs naturally within South American tropical forests, where responsible forest management and preservation of surrounding habitat are important considerations.
Purpleheart timber in commercial markets may be sold simply as Purpleheart without identification to the individual Peltogyne species. This can make verified species-level material difficult to obtain.
Legal harvesting, traceable supply chains, responsible forest management, and accurate botanical identification are particularly valuable when purchasing lesser-known members of the genus.
For EWW, documenting Peltogyne catingae separately helps demonstrate that Purpleheart is not a single tree species but a commercial name encompassing multiple members of Peltogyne.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Purpleheart – A useful starting point for comparing the characteristic purple coloration, density, grain, and woodworking behavior associated with Peltogyne timbers.
Dense-Flowered Purpleheart – Another distinct Peltogyne species that helps demonstrate the botanical diversity hidden behind the commercial Purpleheart name.
Lecointes Purpleheart – A separately documented South American Peltogyne useful for comparing species-level differences within the Purpleheart group.
Related Guides
Purpleheart Species Guide
Explore the individual Peltogyne species associated with Purpleheart and compare their distribution, identification, appearance, and wood characteristics.
Preserving Color in Purpleheart & Padauk
Learn why brightly colored woods change after cutting and explore methods that may help slow the loss or darkening of their distinctive coloration.
Color Changes in Tropical Hardwoods Over Time
Explore how ultraviolet light, oxygen, oxidation, extractives, and finishing systems influence the long-term appearance of naturally colored hardwoods.
Machining Dense Tropical Hardwoods
Learn how tooling, cutting technique, heat management, feed rates, and surface preparation can improve results when working with dense tropical timber.
Understanding Chatoyance in Wood
Learn how grain orientation and reflected light can create visual depth and shifting appearance in figured and highly colored hardwoods.
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
Catinga Purpleheart is particularly valuable for collectors because commercially sold Purpleheart is frequently identified only to the genus or trade-group level.
A specimen positively identified as Peltogyne catingae therefore has considerably greater botanical value than a sample labeled simply “Purpleheart.”
Samples documenting different stages of color development can be especially educational. A freshly surfaced specimen, an exposed purple specimen, and an older darkened specimen can demonstrate how dramatically the appearance changes over time.
Collector material should retain the scientific name, geographic origin, acquisition date, source, and any supporting identification information.
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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.
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:
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.
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