Wood Species Guide

Wild Tambran (Wild Tamarind)

Likely Cojoba arborea (syn. Pithecellobium arboreum)

Also called: Wild Tamarind, Tambran, Ardillo, Cojoba, Bahama Sabicu, Red Tamarind, Lorito, Quebracho

Wild Tambran is a Central American slab name that most likely points to Cojoba arborea, a reddish-brown striped hardwood with a mahogany-like glow and more hardness. It makes handsome, durable dining tables and bar tops.

ImportHardwoodTropical Slab Woods

Good forTabletops & Slabs Outdoor & Rot-Resistant

About the name “Wild Tambran (Wild Tamarind)”

"Wild Tambran" is a Caribbean and Central American way of saying "wild tamarind", and that name is used for several trees. Our slabs carry our supplier's "ARD" code, and ardillo is a Central American name for Cojoba arborea, which lumber sellers also market as Wild Tambran. Our slab weights fit that species too. Florida's own wild tamarind (Lysiloma latisiliquum) and the true tamarind (Tamarindus indica) are different woods.

Quebracho is also used for several other very hard woods, mainly Schinopsis from South America.

What Wild Tambran (Wild Tamarind) looks like

Heartwood is a reddish to orange-brown with darker reddish-brown stripes, and it can show a deep luster when finished. Sapwood is a light grayish brown.

Grain and texture

Grain is straight or interlocked, sometimes producing a ribbon stripe. Texture is medium to coarse with moderate luster.

Working Wild Tambran (Wild Tamarind): planing, cutting and gluing

Moderately hard and heavy, comparable to a dense oak. It saws and cuts well and takes a fine polish. Interlocked areas can tear out in the planer, so finish the flattening with a sander. Lumber sellers report that it glues well and holds fasteners firmly.

Finishing Wild Tambran (Wild Tamarind): oil, film finishes and epoxy

Responds well to oil, which brings up the red and orange tones and the striping. Film finishes and epoxy both bond well on a clean surface; seal the pores before a deep pour.

Durability, stability and Florida humidity

Natural durability is rated high, with moderate to high resistance to termites and decay. That makes it a better candidate than most for a covered lanai, though it still needs a UV-blocking finish. Indoors in Florida, acclimate in AC and finish both faces.

Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop

Wild Tambran is a sleeper. It has much of the warm reddish look and shine of mahogany, with more heft and hardness, which suits dining tables, desks and bar tops that get daily use. Our slabs are long and thick, so they flatten into substantial tops. Try it with a clear or amber epoxy fill to keep the warm tones front and center.

Common uses for Wild Tambran (Wild Tamarind)

Furniture, flooring, ceilings, millwork, cabinetry, and heavy construction where it grows.

Sustainability and CITES status

Cojoba arborea is not listed in the CITES Appendices.

Safety and toxicity

Our toxicity rating LowWhat the ratings mean

No common reactions reported

Few reports. We found no documented reactions to this wood or its dust, and the exact species of our slabs is not certain.

In the shop: Normal 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.

No specific wood-dust reactions are well documented. Use normal dust protection when sanding.

Wood toxicity and dust safety guide: every species compared