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What Is Roble Wood?
What Is Roble Wood?. Roble wood comes from the trumpet tree, also called roble de sabana. The trumpet tree is native to the Pacific lowland region of Costa Rica, and its flowers are as prized for their stunning displays as its wood is for its workability and strength. Demand for this beautiful wood has become so high that roble is increasingly rare...
Roble wood comes from the trumpet tree, also called roble de sabana. The trumpet tree is native to the Pacific lowland region of Costa Rica, and its flowers are as prized for their stunning displays as its wood is for its workability and strength. Demand for this beautiful wood has become so high that roble is increasingly rare outside of parks and reserves.
Trunk and Foliage
Tabebuia rosea (roble tree) can grow up to 90 feet tall in its natural rainforest habitat. The trunk typically measures about 2 feet in diameter. The roble tree grows with a straight trunk. Large folds appear near its base, and these form short roots at ground level. The bark of the roble tree is light gray to tan in color, and in young trees, fine cracks mark the surface. In older trees, the bark is much thicker and rougher, marked by wide vertical cracks. The firm branches are typically angular, and they divide into stubby twigs. The leaves are arranged along the twigs, each composed of five elliptical leaflets that vary in size. The arrangement of the leaves and branches creates a shady, cone-shaped crown. Foliage is shed in late December through January, and the tree remains bare until April.
Flowers and Fruit
The roble tree is also called the trumpet tree, a name that is derived from the large trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom between April and August. These flowers bloom in a range of colors from pink to white. The fruits of the roble tree are pods that open to release winged seeds. The flowers fall in late August to early September and often retain their color for a couple of days.
Roble Wood
Roble heartwood ranges in color from golden to chestnut brown. Its sapwood is pale rose-colored. Roble wood has a straight, tightly interlocked grain that has excellent machining and turning qualities, making it an ideal wood for veneers. Its strength is similar to teak.
Uses
Roble is used in the manufacture of furniture and cabinetry. It is also widely used in boat building. Because it is very workable, it is preferred in the manufacture of decorative wood items such as veneers, flooring, trim and balusters. The bark of the roble tree contains tannins, useful in a variety of home remedies. It has been planted as an ornamental throughout Costa Rica, where it thrives even along roadsides and in exposed sites where environmental pollution is high.
