Muiracatiara (Tigerwood)
Scientific name: Astronium lecointei
Overview
Muiracatiara, Astronium lecointei, is a dense South American hardwood in the cashew family and one of several Astronium species traded as tigerwood. Golden to orange-brown heartwood crossed by irregular dark streaks creates its dramatic striped figure. Strength, wear resistance, and appearance favor flooring, furniture, cabinetry, and decorative work.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Muiracatiara (Tigerwood)
- Scientific Name: Astronium lecointei
- Region: Central & South America
- Tree Size: Large tropical forest tree; reliable species-specific average not confirmed
- Average Dried Weight: Reliable species-specific value not confirmed
- Janka Hardness: Reliable species-specific value not confirmed
- Color: Golden brown to reddish brown with dark irregular striping
- Grain: Straight to interlocked
- Texture: Fine to medium
Identification Characteristics
Heartwood ranges from golden tan to orange or reddish brown with irregular dark brown or nearly black stripes. Lighter sapwood is clearly differentiated. Grain varies from straight to interlocked, texture is fine to medium, and natural luster can be high.
Key identification traits include:
- Golden to orange-brown heartwood
- Dark irregular stripes
- Clearly lighter sapwood
- Fine to medium texture
- Good natural luster
Working Properties
The hard, heavy wood machines well with sharp carbide tools but can blunt cutters; interlocked grain may tear during planing. Pre-boring is advisable. It turns, sands, glues, and finishes well when surfaces are freshly prepared.
- Use sharp carbide tooling
- Interlocked grain may tear
- Pre-bore near edges
- Turns and sands well
- Finishes to a lustrous surface
Safety Note
Dust from Astronium woods may cause skin and respiratory irritation or sensitization. Use effective extraction, eye protection, gloves when dusty, and a fitted respirator.
Common Uses
Strength, wear resistance, and striped figure support uses including:
- Flooring
- Furniture and cabinetry
- Architectural millwork
- Veneer and panels
- Turned objects
- Tool handles
Sustainability & Notes
Astronium lecointei is accepted by Plants of the World Online and broadly distributed in tropical South America. Sources reviewed report Least Concern or no immediate global threat, and it is not CITES-listed. Tigerwood trade can pool several species, so require botanical identity and legal origin.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Goncalo Alves – A closely associated tiger-striped Astronium trade wood with strong visual similarity.
Quebracho – Another dense South American member of the cashew family, generally plainer and much heavier.
Jatoba – A reddish Brazilian hardwood used for flooring and furniture, but without tigerwood’s characteristic dark striping.
Related Guides
Wood Families & Trade Groups – Understand botanical relationships and the limits of common trade names.
How to Identify Exotic Hardwood by Grain Pattern – Review practical visual features used in preliminary identification.
Identifying Unknown Wood Samples – Learn why provenance and anatomical evidence matter when similar woods share a name.
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
Bold striping makes Muiracatiara attractive to collectors, but verified provenance is crucial because several Astronium species share the tigerwood name. Retain sapwood, heartwood, and end grain when possible.
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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.
Lumber Suppliers:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
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