Wood Species Guide
Macacauba
Platymiscium spp. (mainly P. pinnatum, P. trinitatis, P. ulei, P. dimorphandrum)
Also called: Macawood, Hormigo, Orange Agate, Granadillo, Panama Redwood
About the name “Macacauba”
Macacauba goes by many names and none dominates: macawood for lumber, hormigo for marimba bars and turning stock. "Granadillo" is also used for several other dense woods, including some true rosewoods, so ask for the genus when buying. Platymiscium is a legume related to the rosewoods but not a Dalbergia.
What Macacauba looks like
Heartwood ranges from bright orange-red to a deep reddish or purplish brown, often with darker stripes. The yellow to white sapwood is clearly set off.
Grain and texture
Grain is straight to interlocked, with a medium to fine texture and a high natural luster.
Working Macacauba: planing, cutting and gluing
Works better than its weight suggests, though interlocked areas tear out if you take heavy cuts. It glues and turns well and polishes to a high shine with little effort.
Finishing Macacauba: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes oil, hardwax oil and film finishes well, and the stripes pop under a clear coat. It is less oily than true rosewoods, but an acetone wipe and seal coat before epoxy is still cheap insurance. The bright orange tones darken toward brown with light.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Rated durable to very durable against decay and resistant to insects. It is fairly stable once dry. It holds up on a Florida lanai, though indoors it still needs acclimating and finish on all faces.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Macacauba is a good-value alternative to the restricted rosewoods: hard, striped and colorful, without the CITES paperwork. It works for table accents, cutting board stripes, knife scales and turned bowls, and it is a classic marimba bar wood. Pair it with maple for strong contrast. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Macacauba
Furniture, cabinetry, flooring, veneer, marimba bars and other instruments, turned objects and knife handles.
Sustainability and CITES status
The Brazilian species usually sold as macacauba are not listed in the CITES Appendices or rated threatened on the IUCN Red List. One Central American species, Platymiscium parviflorum, was added to CITES Appendix II in 2026, so wood sold as granadillo or cristobal from that region may need permits. Ask for the species and origin when you buy.
Safety and toxicity
- No common reactions reported
Few reports. No reactions beyond ordinary dust irritation are documented.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Beyond the normal irritation any fine dust can cause, no reactions are commonly reported. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding.
Macacauba in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Macacauba listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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