Wood Species Guide

Gavilon Limon

Probably Pentaclethra macroloba (see note on the name)

Also called: Gavilán, Gavilan Limon, Pracaxi, Oil Bean Tree, Palo de Aceite, Sangredo, Wild Tamarind (in some regions)

Gavilon Limon is a Central American slab-trade name, most likely for gavilán (Pentaclethra macroloba), a big lowland tree with mahogany-like reddish-brown heartwood. It comes in huge slabs that make one-piece conference and dining tables.

ImportHardwoodTropical Slab Woods

Good forTabletops & Slabs

About the name “Gavilon Limon”

"Gavilán" is the Costa Rican name for Pentaclethra macroloba, a dominant tree of the Caribbean lowlands, which is Costa Rica's Limón province. Our slabs are sold under the trade name gavilán, which is commonly identified as Pentaclethra macroloba. We have not seen the name explained in a scientific source, so treat the ID as likely, not certain. One more wrinkle: the same species is sometimes called "wild tamarind", which is not the same wood as our Wild Tambran.

What Gavilon Limon looks like

Heartwood is a reddish brown, and the sapwood dries to a light pink. Color is fairly even with gentle darker zones marking the growth rings.

Grain and texture

Grain is straight or interlocked with a medium texture and moderate luster. It lacks strong figure but has a clean, attractive look, which is why it is used locally as a mahogany substitute.

Working Gavilon Limon: planing, cutting and gluing

Reported to saw easily and polish well. It is a fairly heavy wood, so use sharp blades and expect some tearout where the grain interlocks. Glue joints should be fresh-surfaced. Pre-drill for screws.

Finishing Gavilon Limon: oil, film finishes and epoxy

Oils bring out the reddish tones the way they do on mahogany. Clear film finishes and epoxy flood coats both work. Seal the slab before a deep epoxy pour so the pores don't push bubbles into the resin.

Durability, stability and Florida humidity

Durability is only moderate: it resists termites for some years but is not a ground-contact or outdoor wood. Keep it indoors or under cover. In Florida, acclimate wide slabs in AC and seal both faces evenly.

Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop

Gavilon Limon slabs come to us big: wide, long and thick enough for a full conference table or a 10-foot dining top in one piece. The reddish-brown color reads a lot like mahogany at a fraction of the price. With slabs this size, weight and flatness matter, so we flatten on the CNC and recommend a stout steel or trestle base. Bring a few friends or use our delivery quote.

Common uses for Gavilon Limon

Furniture, cabinets, doors and window frames, beams, floors, stair treads, turned parts and as a mahogany substitute.

Sustainability and CITES status

Pentaclethra macroloba is not listed in the CITES Appendices and is one of the most common trees in its range.

Safety and toxicity

Our toxicity rating ModerateWhat the ratings mean

Sensitizer (allergy builds with exposure)
Skin irritation

Few reports on the wood itself. The seeds and bark contain toxins, and long contact with the sawdust and bark has been reported to cause allergy. Remove bark before working and keep the dust down.

In the shop: Dust collection + mask when sanding; gloves when handling bark
Food contact: Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils

General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.

Little is published on reactions to this wood. The seeds and bark contain toxins, and long contact with the sawdust and bark has been reported to cause allergy. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding, and wear gloves when handling bark.

Wood toxicity and dust safety guide: every species compared