Ucuuba
Scientific name: Virola surinamensis
Overview
Ucuuba is a tropical hardwood native to northern South America and the Amazon Basin, particularly Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Venezuela, and neighboring areas. Virola surinamensis belongs to the Myristicaceae family, the same botanical family as nutmeg, and is commonly associated with lowland tropical forests, floodplains, river margins, and seasonally inundated environments.
The wood is generally pale cream to yellowish brown or light pinkish brown, with relatively little distinction between heartwood and sapwood. Grain is usually straight, although slightly interlocked or irregular grain may occur, while texture is typically medium and relatively uniform.
Ucuuba is lightweight to moderately lightweight and generally easy to machine. It has been used for plywood, veneer, furniture components, interior joinery, boxes, crates, paneling, and other applications where low weight and easy workability are desirable. The species is also notable for its seeds, which contain oils and fats that have had traditional and commercial uses in parts of South America.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Ucuuba
- Alternate Common Name(s): Virola, Baboonwood
- Scientific Name: Virola surinamensis
- Region: South American Hardwoods
- Tree Size: Approximately 80–115 ft (24–35 m) tall, with trunks potentially reaching 2–3 ft (0.6–0.9 m) in diameter
- Average Dried Weight: Approximately 30–35 lbs/ft³ (480–560 kg/m³), with natural variation
- Janka Hardness: Reliable standardized species-specific value not consistently documented
- Grain: Generally straight to slightly interlocked
- Texture: Medium and relatively uniform
Identification Characteristics
Ucuuba generally produces pale cream, yellowish-brown, or light pinkish-brown wood. Heartwood and sapwood may be difficult to distinguish because both portions of the trunk can remain relatively light in color.
Grain is commonly straight, although slightly interlocked or irregular sections can occur. Texture is typically medium and uniform, producing a relatively understated appearance compared with more dramatically figured Amazonian hardwoods.
Key identification traits include:
- Pale cream to yellowish-brown wood
- Occasional pinkish or light reddish tones
- Limited heartwood and sapwood contrast
- Generally straight grain
- Occasionally slightly interlocked grain
- Medium, relatively uniform texture
- Lightweight character
Working Properties
Ucuuba is generally easier to machine than many of the dense tropical hardwoods of South America. Its relatively low density allows straightforward cutting, planing, shaping, and sanding with conventional woodworking equipment.
Sharp tools are still recommended because softer fibers can occasionally produce fuzzy surfaces rather than cutting cleanly. Slightly interlocked material may require careful planing to avoid minor tear-out.
- Machines easily with sharp tools
- Cuts and planes readily
- Sands to a smooth surface
- Glues readily
- Accepts paints and clear finishes well
- Softer fibers may occasionally produce fuzzy surfaces
- Interlocked grain may produce minor tear-out
Safety Note
Detailed species-specific information regarding reactions to Ucuuba wood dust is limited. Dust generated during cutting, routing, turning, and sanding may cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation.
Appropriate dust collection, eye protection, and respiratory protection are recommended during woodworking operations.
Common Uses
Its relatively low weight, uniform texture, and easy machining characteristics make Ucuuba suitable for numerous woodworking and industrial applications, including:
- Plywood
- Veneer
- Furniture components
- Interior joinery
- Paneling
- Boxes and crates
- Packaging
- Light construction
- General carpentry
- Decorative woodworking
Sustainability & Notes
Ucuuba is associated with lowland and floodplain forests throughout portions of northern South America and the Amazon Basin. In addition to its timber, the tree produces seeds containing fats and oils that have historically been utilized by local communities and have attracted commercial interest.
Because floodplain forests are ecologically important environments, responsible management and harvesting are important considerations when sourcing the species.
Legal, traceable material from responsibly managed forests is preferable, while geographic provenance can be particularly valuable for wood collectors because Virola contains numerous related tropical American species.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Balsa – An exceptionally lightweight South American hardwood providing a useful comparison with Ucuuba in applications where low weight and easy machining are desirable.
Cerejeira – A South American hardwood with warmer coloration and greater decorative appeal, commonly used for furniture, cabinetry, and interior woodworking.
Cedrinho – Another relatively workable South American timber used for furniture, millwork, paneling, and general interior applications.
Related Guides
Density & Hardness Explained (Janka Scale Guide)
Learn how wood density and Janka hardness affect weight, dent resistance, machining characteristics, and suitability for different woodworking applications.
Gluing Exotic Woods: Challenges and Solutions
Learn how density, moisture, surface preparation, natural extractives, and adhesive selection influence glue performance in tropical woods.
Moisture Content & Long-Term Stability
Explore how moisture content affects dimensional stability, drying behavior, movement, and the long-term performance of finished wood.
Finishing Oils vs. Polyurethane on Exotic Species
Compare common finishing systems and learn how finish selection influences color, surface protection, grain appearance, and long-term performance.
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
Ucuuba is an interesting collector species because its relatively pale, lightweight wood contrasts dramatically with many of the dense and deeply colored hardwoods associated with South America.
The species also adds representation of the Myristicaceae family to a collection. A documented specimen can provide an interesting botanical comparison with other members of the nutmeg family while demonstrating the wide variety of useful timber species occurring within Amazonian floodplain forests.
Collector specimens should retain the scientific name Virola surinamensis, geographic origin, supplier information, and acquisition date whenever available because several Virola species can produce superficially similar wood.
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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:
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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