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ANGELIM PEDRA

Hymenolobium spp.
Hymenolobium spp. of the family Fabaceae (syn. Leguminosae) the legume, pea, or bean family

I was told by Paul van Rijckevorsel that in Brazil the name "angelim" can be applied to several coarse woods in the family Leguminosae and that usually angelim pedra will refer to Hymenolobium petraeum, however, there are at least 2 other species in the genera Hymenolobium plus 3 in the genus Andira, and a couple more random species from other genera, all of which use the name angelim pedra and I have no great confidence as to which of them are displayed on this page unless explicitly stated.

my samples: NOTE: these pics were all taken in very bright incandescent lighting ("soft white" at 2700K) colors will vary under other lighting conditions

both sides of a sample plank of angelim pedra / Hymenolobium spp. --- HUGE enlargements are present.


end grain and HIGH GRIT END GRAIN CLOSEUP of the piece directly above


plank and end grain


end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above --- the heavy white streaks going up and to the left are tiny cracks that have filled up with fine dust
both sides of a sample plank of angelim / Andira coriacea --- HUGE enlargements are present. NOTE: this isn't even one of the Andira spp. that take andira pedra as all or part of one or more of their common names, BUT ... it is a closely related wood that has "andira" as a common name plus some characteristics that appear identical to some of the andira pedra species so I have included it on this page. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and HIGH GRIT END GRAIN CLOSEUP of the piece directly above

web pics:

plank with wet and dry sections, listed as angelim pedra / Hymenolobium excelsum


plank that was listed as tatajuba but which correspondent Steve Earis tells me is clearly angelim pedra which he says is known for those strange blotches. Steve goes on to say that the wood is tough enough but when you hit those blotches it's like cutting through glass and you lose the edge off your tool instantly.


planks


plank listed as angelim pedra / Hymenolobium excelsum


planks, all from the same vendor and listed as angelim pedra / Hymenolobium excelsum


planks, all from the same vendor


planks, all from the same vendor


plank listed as angelim pedra / Hymenolobium spp. and then the same pic from another site but listed only as angelim pedra. SO ... my assumption is that the second pic is the original and somebody just copied it and cropped it and falsely gave it a species name. It's this kind of crap that made me start this web site in the first place.


a very well-photographed, 3" long, piece listed as angelim pedra / Dinizia excelsa with both levels of enlargement, the 2nd of which shows the very grainy face grain very nicely


crotch


pen turned from spalted sapwood of angelim pedra / Hymenolobium petraeum. Photograph contributed to the site by the pen turner, Bruce Selyem, whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. The pen is finished with shellwax.