Lyptus®

Lyptus® (Eucalyptus urograndis)

Common Name(s): Lyptus^®

Scientific Name: Eucalyptus urograndis (Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla hybrid)

Distribution: Grown on plantations in Brazil

Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 3-4 ft (1-1.2 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 53 lbs/ft³ (850 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .60

Hardness: 1,420 lb_f (6,330 N)

Bending Strength: 17,110 lb_f/in² (118,030 kPa)

Elasticity: 2,049,000 lb_f/in² (14,130 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 8.2%, Tangential: 12.8%, Volumetric: 21.0%, T/R Ratio: 1.6

Color/Appearance: Color ranges from a lighter salmon pink to a darker brownish red. Appearance has been likened to both Black Cherry and Honduran Mahogany. Color tends to deepen with age.

Grain/Pore: Has a medium texture and small to medium sized open pores. The grain tends to be straight and even. Also, since the wood is grown and pruned on a plantation, there tends to be few knots or other abnormal grain patterns.

Durability: Mixed reports, with most sources rating the heartwood as moderately durable in regard to decay resistance, though it is susceptible to insect attack.

Workability: Generally easy to work, though it can burn easily. Glues, stains, and finishes well.

Smell: There is no characteristic odor associated with this wood species.

Safety: There have been no adverse health effects associated with Lyptus^®. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price Range: Should be reasonably priced, especially for an import. (This is most likely due to the source of the wood: which is exclusively grown on plantations.)

Comments: Lyptus^® is merely a trade name, which is a registered trademark owned by the Brazilian company Aracruz Produtos de Madeira (APM). The Lyptus^® brand is marketed in the United States by Weyerhaeuser. The actual tree species, which is grown on Brazilian plantations owned by APM, is a Eucalyptus hybrid of Eucalyptus grandis and E. urophylla.

In terms of mechanical/physical characteristics, Lyptus® has a very high shrinkage rate, and is likely to experience a fair amount of seasonal movement. The wood is relatively hard, heavy, and strong, though as a general rule, the paler pinkish brown boards tend to be less dense, while the darker reddish brown boards tend to be heavier and harder.

Common uses for Lyptus include: flooring, lumber, interior millwork, cabinetry, plywood, and turned objects.